The British schoolboy who has allegedly been abducted by his own mother while on holiday was excitedly sharing pictures of the Spanish villa where he was last seen just days before he disappeared.
Alex Batty flew to Malaga, Spain, with his mother on a pre-arranged holiday to Benahavis, near Marbella, on September 30.
But when the 11-year-old did not return home to his guardian as expected on October 8, police were alerted and are now hunting for Alex and Melanie Batty, 37.
Alex Batty flew to Malaga, Spain, with his mother on a pre-arranged holiday to Benahavis, near Marbella, on September 30
An image shared on Facebook by Alex, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, on September 29 showed a property bathed in sun with a pool named ‘Terry’s villa’ and the youngster bragged ‘I’m going there in five days’
It is feared they have now travelled on to Melila on the Moroccan border after he was last traced near the resort’s port.
An image shared on Facebook by Alex, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, on September 29 showed a property bathed in sun with a pool named ‘Terry’s villa’ and the youngster bragged ‘I’m going there in five days’.
Friends told how Ms Batty had moved to Spain but had recently returned to take her son back with her.
Alex – described as about 5ft white and of slim build with blond hair – attends Heathershaw College secondary school in Oldham.
A classmate said: ‘He’s not in my class but I him from around school and he has lots of friends.
‘We wondered where he had been and then we saw the news.
‘I think he only saw his mum occasionally as she moved to Spain ages ago. But he came back to get him.
‘We thought he went on holiday but he has been gone for quite a while.
Friends told how Ms Batty had moved to Spain but had recently returned to take her son back with her
Neighbours at the mother’s former home in the town revealed they hadn’t seen her since she and her father David were evicted from her home about 18 months ago
Neighbours at the mother’s former home in the town revealed they hadn’t seen her since she and her father David were evicted from her home about 18 months ago.
She said: ‘I don’t think she paid her bills then they came and got her out.
‘I don’t know where she went after that. I think she went abroad.
‘I think her lad used to play with the other kids in the park.’
Another neighbour living on her former estate said: ‘We have continued to get letters for him but he hasn’t lived here for about three years.
‘We think the son Alex used to come and stay here.
‘When we moved in the little lad had a bedroom with all his stuff in it. When they were evicted they did not take any of their stuff with them.
‘The mail is mostly from debt collectors or about spiritual healing.’
Police fear he may have boarded a boat in Malaga port (pictured) and could now be in Africa
Detective Inspector Lindsay Booth, from Oldham’s Public Protection Division, said: ‘Our main priority is finding Alex and bringing him home. His guardian is understandably extremely upset and although she heard from Alex on the 8 October, she has not heard from him since and is desperate to get him home.
‘We have followed extensive enquiries and we know Melanie has visited Morocco a number of times before and we believe she could have travelled with Alex to there.
‘Our last known location of Alex puts him near the Port of Malaga and boats run from there to Melilla in Morocco.
‘I am appealing to anyone who recognises this young boy or Melanie, or has been in contact with them, to please get in touch with us. It might be that you were staying in the same resort as them, are friends from home and have heard from them through social media or texts, or that you might have some knowledge of their plans.
‘I implore you, please get in touch with us or contact police if you are abroad.’
Anyone with any information should call police on 0161 856 8972 (+44 161 856 8972 if abroad) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.