Pictured: Isolated farm the place Alex Batty spent the final two years

This is the remoted farm within the Pyrenees mountains the place British schoolboy Alex Batty lived for the previous two years, MailOnline can reveal.

Situated within the tiny hamlet of La Bastide with a inhabitants of simply 15 folks, the native mayor confirmed that Alex, now 17, had lived there along with his grandfather David Batty since 2021.

Alex, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was allegedly kidnapped by his mom Melanie, then 37, and grandfather, then 58, to dwell in a ‘non secular commune’ after not coming back from a vacation to Spain. 

The then spent the final six years travelling from house-to-house along with his ‘photo voltaic panel obsessed’ household whereas foraging for meals, it was revealed at this time.

The farmhouse within the foothills of the Pyrenees, the place he spent the final two years, is 40 miles – or an 11-hour stroll – from the place Alex was picked up by a supply driver as he walked alongside a distant highway close to Chalabre at 2am on Wednesday.

Today the proprietor of the property, who would solely give his identify as Fred, declined to remark.

But the Mayor Rolande Alibert confirmed that the pair have been identified to locals as ‘Zach’ and ‘Peter’ and have been usually seen within the space.

Mr Alibert mentioned he had by no means seen Alex’s mom, who was believed to have been together with her son when he was kidnapped by in Malaga six years in the past.

Describing Alex as ‘glad and well mannered’ younger man, he mentioned that the boy all the time mentioned ‘bonjour’ when he noticed him, however little else as a result of his French was restricted.

He informed MailOnline: ‘He is a stunning younger man, all the time well mannered and good. He did not communicate French, neither of them did, however they all the time mentioned ‘Bonjour’.

‘We knew the boy as Zach and his grandfather as Peter and it was solely after I examine them within the newspaper that I learnt the reality.’

Mr Batty and his grandson had been taken on on the farmhouse known as the ‘Gite de la Bastide’ as handymen doing odd-jobs and taking care of company for his or her board and lodgings.

Veronique, a part-time waitress, on the Gite informed MailOnline: ‘Of course I do know him however to us he was not Alex he was Zach.

‘He lived at a Gite within the different facet of the mountain along with his grandfather. He mentioned his identify was Peter. Now I recognised him from the images on the information. They have been residing on the gite for about two years.

‘It was what we name a ‘work away’ that signifies that you’re employed on a farm and you’re paid in board and lodgings.

‘I do know the homeowners of the gite. They are tremendous good and sort. They had no concept. I acquired to know Zach. He might communicate some French however not that a lot. I informed him he ought to be taught extra. That was a part of the rationale he left, I feel. He was caught in the course of nowhere.

‘He didn’t have [identity] papers so he couldn’t have been in a position to get on along with his life.

‘He was a stunning younger man. We danced collectively on the summer time fetes. Every Friday there’s a market in Camps sur Aglaia and within the night there’s music and dancing. It’s a number of enjoyable.’

She mentioned: ‘He used to assist his grandfather with the work. But within the winter there’s not a lot to do. So he would spend hours on the pc. He should have felt very remoted out right here.’

French police mentioned earlier at this time that Alex had lived within the space along with his mom and grandfather and altering choice of about 10 different individuals who all believed in reincarnation.

The power mentioned that Alex informed them he determined to flee the commune following his grandfather’s loss of life six months in the past and after his mom mentioned she deliberate to maneuver with him to Finland. 

After six years of residing a nomadic way of life travelling from Morocco to Spain after which on to France – all whereas by no means going to highschool and having to forage for meals – Alex determined ‘this needed to cease’, Toulouse Assistant Public Prosecutor Antoine Leroy mentioned.

In the 4 days that adopted, Alex trekked throughout the mountains within the French Pyrenees – foraging for what little meals he might discover from the fields and gardens – till he was discovered by scholar Fabien Accidini on Wednesday at 3am. 

And now Alex, who mentioned his mom Melanie was ‘obsessed’ with photo voltaic panels and would journey from home to deal with with them, is about to be have an emotional reunion along with his grandmother and authorized guardian, Susan Caruana, inside days. 

Ms Caruana, who has since remarried, has spent an agonising six years not figuring out if her grandson is alive after her daughter Melanie and ex-husband David took him overseas to pursue an ‘various way of life’. 

But Alex ought to now be capable to return to his grandmother on Saturday or on the newest on Sunday, French authorities mentioned, with Ms Caruana saying tonight she ‘cannot wait to see him once we’re reunited’. 

‘I can not start to specific my reduction and happiness that Alex has been discovered protected and properly,’ Ms Caruana mentioned on Friday night time. ‘I spoke with him final night time and it was so good to listen to his voice and see his face once more. I can not wait to see him once we’re reunited.’

‘The principal factor is that he is protected, after what can be an amazing expertise for anybody; not least a baby,’ Ms Caruana added. 

Leroy mentioned Alex had informed French prosecutors of his nomadic way of life over the previous six years and the way his grandfather David died six months in the past. Alex mentioned he had taken half in a ‘meditation’ ceremony on the time of his loss of life.

Leroy mentioned {the teenager}, whose father left when he was two years outdated, informed police that he had been residing along with his mom and maternal grandfather for six years in ‘non secular communes’ in Spain and Morocco earlier than they travelled to the French Pyrenees the place they arrange camp.

Alex informed them that his mom and grandfather had an ‘obsession’ with photo voltaic vitality and so they moved from home to deal with whereas taking the photo voltaic panels with them.

‘The mom skilled a form of obsession with photo voltaic panels, so that they have been travelling to deal with to deal with with photo voltaic panels,’ Leroy mentioned. ‘They solely used car-sharing, they did not have their very own automobile.’ 

Continuing to explain how Alex had been residing over the previous six years, Leroy mentioned the ‘non secular commune’ he was a part of would deal with meditation – and there was ‘no reference to the actual world’.

He added: ‘They lived with round ten folks – in Morocco, Spain, France – and so they have been by no means the identical folks. 

‘They acquired meals from allotments and there was work on the ego, meditation, there was no reference to the surface world. They believed in reincarnation.’

Leroy added: ‘What I’m describing is what occurred in Morocco, in Spain and in France – it was all the time the identical sort of factor.’ 

Leroy mentioned it was his mom’s announcement that she deliberate to maneuver them to Finland that made Alex determine to depart. He mentioned it is ‘potential’ Melanie has left France for Finland as she’d hoped. 

‘When his mom indicated that she was going to depart with him to Finland, this younger man understood that this needed to cease. So then he determined to depart the place the place he was along with his mom and walked for 4 days and 4 nights,’ Leroy mentioned. 

In the 4 days that adopted, Alex trekked throughout the mountains within the French Pyrenees till he was discovered by scholar Fabien on Wednesday at 3am. 

‘He was solely strolling at night time and sleeping within the day,’ Leroy mentioned. ‘He acquired meals from fields and gardens earlier than he was discovered.’ He added that Alex had 100 euros however no cellphone. 

The teenager mentioned he by no means suffered bodily abuse throughout his six years away from his grandmother, who’s his authorized guardian, however didn’t discuss any emotional abuse.

Alex, 17, was picked up on the D16 – an unlit single carriageway nation highway between the cities of Chalabre and Mirepoix – at 2am on Wednesday after 4 days of strolling, with locals saying he was fortunate to not have been run over and killed.

He was wandering alongside the highway within the pitch black when he was noticed by Fabien Accidini, a chiropractic scholar from Toulouse, who was delivering medical provides to villages within the rural Aude division within the foothills of the Pyrenees.

An exhausted Alex was carrying a skateboard, a flashlight and had a rucksack on his again when he was picked up by Fabien earlier than being taken to police in Revel, close to Toulouse. 

Speaking about Alex’s situation when he was checked over by officers, Leroy mentioned: ‘This younger man was described by the police who’ve seen him and by the medical doctors who examined him as ‘drained’ however general in good well being. 

‘He’s mentioned to be clever despite the fact that he is by no means been to highschool on this complete interval,’ Leroy mentioned. 

Today locals informed of their shock over the boy’s discovery. 

Jean Lapierre, who lives in Chalabre, mentioned: ‘I do know that highway properly. There isn’t any avenue lighting and strolling at the moment of the night time alongside the facet of the highway the place lorries return forth, it is a miracle he wasn’t hit by a automobile. 

‘In the pouring rain, it could have been tough to see the boy strolling alongside the facet of the highway. When he [Accidini] noticed him, I’m not stunned he stopped to investigate after his welfare as a result of it could be very uncommon to see anybody strolling on that stretch of highway at the moment of night time.’

Mr Lapierreadded: ‘I examine this poor boy within the newspaper. 

‘It’s unbelievable. But there are numerous distant farms within the mountains. People can dwell for months up there with out seeing anybody.’

Meanwhile, Alex’s grandmother mentioned at this time that she is ‘over the moon’ after she spoke to her grandson for the primary time in six years and is now ‘determined to see him’ following his escape from the ‘non secular commune’ within the mountainous area of Ariege.

Speaking from the household house in Oldham at this time, an overwhelmed Ms Caruana mentioned: ‘It’s superb. It’s an unbelievable story. It’s unbelievable in any case these years. I’m in shock, I can not consider it. I’ve spoken to him and he is properly. 

‘I’m determined to see him over the weekend however I do not know what’s taking place. I’m ready for the authorities to let me know. It’s been all around the information. It’s breath-taking, and I’m over the moon. I simply can’t consider it.’ 

Ms Caruana informed the Daily Mail: ‘I’m simply elated that he is coming house.’ Speaking about speaking to Alex on the cellphone final night time for the primary time in six years, the emotional grandmother mentioned: ‘When I first heard Alex’s voice it was completely like a dream. It is unbelievable.’

Police sources mentioned at this time {that a} passport software for Alex was at the moment being ‘expedited’, however he isn’t anticipated again within the UK earlier than the weekend.

The teenager, who was ‘brainwashed’ by Melanie and David in response to his household in England, is within the care of social providers in Toulouse and has up to now refused to say the place precisely they have been staying of their ‘non secular commune’.

Alex’s cousin Stephen Devine mentioned: ‘Alex’s mum was concerned in a cult. His grandma turned his guardian however then his mum Melissa and grandfather provided to take him on vacation for per week and so they have been by no means seen once more. 

‘It goes to be an enormous adjustment for him (to be house). He’s most likely grown up and not using a formal training.’ 

Detectives from Greater Manchester Police have flown out to the Ariege area, which is thought for hippy camps, conspiracy theorists, sects and cults, to deliver Alex again house.

The officers from GMP usually are not at the moment being despatched out to affix the hunt for his mom and grandfather, it’s understood, with detectives liaising with their French counterparts on the bottom.

As they haven’t but spoken on to Alex themselves, his disappearance isn’t a part of a prison inquiry at this stage, though police chiefs confirmed at this time that his mom was ‘a part of that dialog’.

‘We are urgently attempting to determine the precise circumstances of the place Alex has been residing, so till we have got these solutions that is nonetheless being thought of a lacking individual inquiry,’ a supply mentioned.

‘There are a number of unanswered questions, ranging from the purpose Alex didn’t return house as deliberate again in 2017.

‘But the vital factor at this time is that Alex is protected and properly and has spoken to his grandmother.

‘So whereas officers want to communicate with him about his disappearance, the precedence in the intervening time is Alex’s welfare and reuniting him along with his household in Oldham as shortly as potential.’

Police have refused to say affirm that Alex’s mom Melanie and grandfather David are suspects within the investigation.

But earlier GMP Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes informed reporters: ‘Obviously his mom is a part of that dialog and investigation.’

Meanwhile Ms Caruana mentioned she doesn’t know when he’ll be capable to fly again however, requested if it was prone to be at this time, she replied: ‘Probably not.’ 

She added full preparations for his return are nonetheless being organized. 

Mrs Caruana mentioned she ‘does not know’ concerning the particulars of the group her ex-husband and daughter had taken Alex away to affix.

But she added: ‘I’ll be capable to discuss extra absolutely when he is again and along with his permission.’

Meanwhile, Sykes informed a press convention at this time that his principal precedence in the intervening time is Alex’s protected return to the UK. 

Sykes mentioned: ‘I feel I communicate on behalf of the entire of Greater Manchester Police after I say we have been relieved and overjoyed to obtain information from the French Authorities that they consider Alex Batty had been situated protected and properly, greater than 6 years after his disappearance. This is a big second for Alex, for his household and for the group in Oldham.’

Sykes continued: ‘He’s getting properly cared for by the French authorities in the intervening time in Toulouse. Our precedence is to get him again to the UK and get him again to his household in Oldham as quickly as potential, that’s anticipated to occur over the subsequent few days.’

‘The younger man and his grandmother spoke on a video name final night time and while she is content material that that is certainly Alex – we clearly have additional checks to do when he returns to the nation.’

Police are additionally now looking for Melanie and David, with Sykes saying detectives ‘nonetheless have some work to do establishing the complete circumstances surrounding Alex’s disappearance and the place he has been in all these years.’ 

‘Obviously his mom is a part of the investigation and dialog,’ Sykes added.  

‘I can solely think about the feelings they’ve skilled all through this ordeal. I’d ask that they be granted privateness as they arrive to phrases with what has occurred and as they attempt to discover a solution to transfer forwards with their lives collectively,’ Sykes mentioned. 

Details at the moment are starting to emerge of the form of life {the teenager} is prone to have led within the ‘itinerant commune’ he fled from in France, which was reportedly cut-off from mainstream society and had no faculties. 

Alex’s aunt, Maureen Batty, 73, has informed how family members feared for Alex’s wellbeing after so lengthy away from his household in Britain and out of doors mainstream training. Maureen mentioned: ‘Alex has been brainwashed by the faith David was in.’

Ms Batty informed the Mail: ‘Alex hasn’t had any training whereas on the market, so we do not know what he’ll be like when he comes house. [He] has had it tough. It is a large number. I’ve been informed that Alex mentioned that he had escaped and he did not need to lead that way of life. I simply need to know the reality about what’s gone on.’

Some of Alex’s pals on Facebook embrace individuals who appeared to dwell off-grid, training rituals, meditation and yoga, referring to ‘Gaia’, the Greek earth goddess, and selling the constructing of ‘sustainable and plentiful communities’ in Morocco and elsewhere.

Ms Caruana, who has since remarried, mentioned she spoke to Alex yesterday after so a few years not figuring out if he was lifeless or alive and could not wait to be reunited with him. 

Ms Caruana’s elation over her upcoming reunion together with her grandson comes as a newly resurfaced interview with the grandmother revealed that Melanie went from being a legislation scholar to a ‘chaotic’ cult member in a couple of brief years.

In 2018, Ms Caruana revealed that Melanie was a rebellious teenager, partying laborious, ingesting, and Susan and her husband, David, struggled to deal with her. She went to varsity and acquired a legislation diploma however could not maintain down a job. In 2006, she gave start to Alex.

Ms Caruana mentioned: ‘I lived close by, and I noticed Alex daily, I taken care of him loads and we had such an in depth bond. I loaned a great deal of cash to Melanie, to take care of Alex, however she simply blew the lot.’  

Ms Caruana and David had separated by this stage and David was receiving remedy for well being points. Afterwards, he modified dramatically.

Ms Caruana mentioned: ‘Dave went via remedy and afterwards he started appearing surprisingly. He turned very non secular. He did not consider in working any extra and so he fell behind along with his mortgage and payments and the bailiffs have been known as in. 

‘Melanie turned caught up along with his new way of life too and she or he acquired concerned with a cult. She started travelling overseas, with Alex. Their lives have been chaotic. Melanie did not consider in class or training. I used to be actually nervous about them.’

In 2014, Melanie took Alex, aged eight, to dwell in a commune in Morocco. David quickly adopted. 

Alex later got here again to the UK however his mom and grandfather took him to a luxurious villa in Spain with round 10 folks as a part of a ‘non secular group’ in 2017 earlier than shifting to France in 2021. 

But this week Alex, now 17, fled the ‘non secular group’ situated within the foothills of the French Pyrenees and spent 4 days strolling throughout the mountains attempting to succeed in his grandmother in England. 

By some stroke of luck, Fabien Accidini, a chiropractic scholar from Toulouse, was driving alongside a highway whereas delivering medicines within the mountainous area of Aude when he noticed Alex strolling alongside in pouring rain at round 2am on Wednesday.

A freezing and exhausted Alex, who was carrying a skateboard, gratefully accepted Fabien’s supply of a raise and finally informed him of his extraordinary bid to depart southern France and get house to his household in England.

Alex ought to quickly be returning house to England, French prosecutors mentioned Thursday night time, as an emotional Susan mentioned she is ‘thrilled’ and in ‘shock’ that her beloved grandson has been discovered alive and properly.

His relieved grandmother informed The Times yesterday: ‘I spoke to him this afternoon and it’s positively him. I used to be talking to a boy when he was with us and now I’m talking to a person. I’m hoping he’ll return subsequent week. I want we did not have the weekend upon us. It’s fairly unbelievable when you do not know if any person’s lifeless or alive.’

Prosecutors say that Alex’s household have now confirmed his identification. ‘We affirm the identification [of Alex Batty]. Now he’ll return to Great Britain,’ Toulouse public prosecutor’s workplace informed La Depeche. 

Alex mentioned he had been trekking throughout the French Pyrenees for 4 days earlier than Fabien, 26, noticed him – and one of many first issues Alex did was message his grandmother from the scholar’s cellphone to say ‘I like you, I need to come house’. 

Fabien informed La Depeche newspaper of the second he found {the teenager}: ‘He was strolling whereas the rain fell in heavy drops. The second time I handed him, I made a decision to supply to drop him off someplace.

‘He was fairly tall and blond, and wearing black denims, a white sweater and a backpack. ‘He additionally carried a skateboard below his arm and a flashlight for lighting. His perspective gave me confidence. He ended up stepping into my van.’

Fabien informed Sky News that Alex appeared drained and careworn when he picked him up, however was ‘actually fantastic bodily’.  

He added: ‘During the primary couple of minutes, he appeared a bit of shy. We tried to talk in French however I seen that he had not mastered the language. I made a decision to speak in English. When I requested him his identify, he pretended his identify was Zach, after which we continued chatting.’

Fabien continued: ‘We talked for over three hours! Very shortly, he gave me his actual identification – Alex Batty – earlier than telling me his story.

‘He mentioned his mom kidnapped him when he was 12 years outdated. Since then he had lived in Spain in a luxurious home with round ten folks for 3 years,’ Fabien mentioned. 

‘He arrived in France round 2021. In the center of the weekend, he determined to depart his mom to affix his household in England. He had been strolling for greater than 4 days.’

Alex informed Fabien that he had been residing along with his mom and grandfather in a ‘non secular group’ after that they had kidnapped him. 

Fabien mentioned Alex had informed him that his mom was ‘a bit of loopy’ and ‘in some weird delirium when he was speaking about spirituality’ however insisted that she had by no means imprisoned him and he might ‘go away when he wished’. 

‘He had no animosity in the direction of his mom however he actually wished to search out his grandmother. He actually missed his family members,’ Fabien mentioned.

Fabien added: ‘He did not have regrets [about leaving the community]… he simply wished to dwell a standard life, to see his grandmother once more and to have a standard future, that is the phrase he used.’

Speaking about when he first noticed Alex, Fabien continued: ‘He was thirsty since he had been strolling for a number of days, so I gave him some water.

‘When he defined his scenario to me, I gave him my cellphone as a result of he by no means had a method of communication.

‘He despatched a message to his grandmother from my Facebook. Unfortunately she did not reply. Initially, Alex wished to go to an enormous metropolis to search out assist and go to an embassy. But lastly, I defined to him that the gendarmes might decide him up.’

Fabien drove Alex to the commune of Revel, close to Toulouse in southern France earlier than the 17-year-old informed police who he was. But earlier than they went to the police, Alex helped Fabien ship drugs in the course of the night time and revealed he needs to be an engineer. 

‘When he arrived [in Revel], Alex appeared very drained,’ mentioned Fabien. ‘He lay down on the bottom.

‘After that, the gendarmes questioned us. They have been looking for out if it was actually him. When that they had affirmation, he was taken into care to spend the night time in a house.

‘It’s Alex Batty, 100 per cent. When I noticed the images revealed by the English media, I completely didn’t doubt his phrases.

‘I feel he is a bit of careworn about all this. I hope he’ll be capable to reconnect along with his earlier life and perhaps in the future we are going to see one another once more.’ 

When requested if he had a message for Alex, Fabien mentioned: ‘I hope that your grandmother can be glad, I’m positive of it. And if you wish to meet once more I’m right here.’ 

His grandmother, who was 62 on the time of his disappearance, mentioned she was ‘thrilled’ that Alex had been discovered. 

Alex flew into Malaga airport in Spain on a pre-agreed journey with Melanie – who doesn’t have authorized parental guardianship – and David for a week-long keep within the Benahavis space, close to Marbella on 30 September 2017.

But Alex, his mom and grandfather didn’t come again house as anticipated on October 8 2017, sparking a large police enquiry into the boy’s obvious abduction. 

Alex’s heartbroken grandmother, who was 62 on the time of disappearance, mentioned in 2018 that Melanie and David had beforehand lived on a commune in Morocco with Alex in 2014 as a part of an ‘various way of life’. 

Susan, who has by no means given up hope she can be reunited together with her grandson, mentioned she believed her daughter and ex-husband had kidnapped Alex in order that he might dwell an ‘various way of life’. 

She mentioned on the time: ‘They did not need [Alex] to go to highschool, they do not consider in mainstream faculty.’

Now prosecutors in south west France are sure that Alex, who’s now 17, has turned up alone at a police station within the commune of Revel, close to Toulouse, after a mammoth journey.

Alex, his mom and grandfather had been residing between the departments of Ariege and Aude simply east of Perpignan in southern France in tents and caravans pitched within the wilderness in latest weeks, stories La Depeche newspaper.

And final week, Alex determined flee the ‘non secular group’ and his mom and grandfather within the rural foothills of the French Pyrenees.

Over a number of days, he hiked throughout mountains within the Pyrenees and crossed via a number of villages together with Quillan, within the higher Aude Valley in southern France. 

After a gruelling few days mountaineering via the mountainous area, an exhausted Alex stumbled onto a highway and by some stroke of luck was picked up by medical scholar Fabien on Tuesday night.

Fabien, who mentioned the boy might solely communicate English, mentioned he known as the police after shortly realising Alex’s scenario was ‘irregular’. The driver dropped Alex off in Revel, Toulouse, earlier than the 17-year-old went to the native police station. 

Alex calmly informed the shocked gendarmes how he had been residing in a ‘non secular group’ for the previous six years and the way he is from the UK. 

At the time of Alex’s disappearance six years in the past, Greater Manchester Police mentioned ‘in depth enquiries’ led them to consider that Alex, his mom and grandfather left Benahavis and will have tried to go to Melilla in Morocco from the Port of Malaga.

Officers mentioned they believed Alex was staying with Melanie and David who’re ‘each at giant’ and wished in connection along with his abduction. 

Recalling the day the trio have been presupposed to return house, Alex’s heartbroken grandmother Susan revealed that the trio had despatched her a video of themselves saying why that they had left the UK to dwell an ‘various way of life’. 

Susan mentioned in 2018: ‘I acquired this message on Facebook and it was a YouTube video of the three of them.

‘They all spoke on it and Melanie mentioned the the explanation why that they had carried out what that they had carried out.

‘Alex mentioned it was 1,000,000 occasions higher being along with his mum and granddad. Obviously it damage a bit however then my different considerations kicked in.

‘The cause I consider they’ve carried out it’s because mainly my way of life, my perception techniques, usually are not what they agree with – simply merely residing each day, how regular folks do.

‘They did not need him to go to highschool, they do not consider in mainstream faculty.’

On David Batty’s Facebook, he posted photos concerning the Matrix and the way the federal government is ‘destroying our lives’. He additionally wrote that ‘secret courts’ within the UK are ‘getting used to steal kids for revenue’ 

Susan has by no means given up hope that she can be reunited together with her grandson. 

On his fifteenth birthday, Susan pleaded with him to let her know he was protected and properly in a put up on Facebook. 

‘Happy birthday to my attractive 15 yr outdated grandson. Alex please have some pity, I’m damaged. Please simply give me an indication that you just’re okay.

‘I feel daily that you’re in some far off place residing the life that your mum wished for you. All I need to know is that you just’re nonetheless alive and properly.

‘It’s been years of torture, my coronary heart is damaged. I like you a lot I simply have to know you are okay. I hope I’ll see you once more some day, I’d give something only for one hug. Grandma x’ 

Greater Manchester Police mentioned in an announcement launched at this time that officers in Oldham are involved with French authorities to determine the authenticity of stories that Alex was discovered. 

A spokesperson mentioned: ‘This is a fancy and long-running investigation, and we have to make additional enquiries in addition to placing applicable safeguarding measures in place.’