Alex was 11 when he went on holiday with mother Melanie Batty and grandad David Batty in 2017 but never returned (Picture: PA)
Teenager Alex Batty has said he didn’t attend a single day of school during his six years being dragged across Europe.
The 17-year-old, who has already spoken of making just one friend throughout his time missing, described how JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels became his only form of escapism.
Speaking to The Sun, he said: ‘I had a Harry Potter box set. I’m obsessed with it and must have read each of the books at least 20 times. I carried it everywhere even though it was massive and took up so much space.
‘They’re amazing books. My main pastime was reading because most of the places we were we couldn’t get wifi. I tried to get as many as I could but it was bloody difficult.’
Alex was 11 when he went on holiday with mother Melanie Batty and grandad David Batty in 2017 but never returned, spending the next six years wandering across Europe living an ‘alternative’ lifestyle.
He revealed that getting a proper education was one of the biggest reasons he finally decided to break with his mum and try and get back to the UK.
The teenager added: ‘During all my time away I never attended school for a single day. The only qualifications I have are my Sats test results from primary school when I lived back in Oldham.
‘That’s one of the worst things that’s happened to me throughout all this — not having a proper education.’
Alex Batty’s grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana (Picture: PA)
Alex’s grandmother and legal guardian Susan Caruana, 68, told the Sun she felt ‘completely and utterly betrayed’ when he did not return from the trip to Spain.
She said: ‘During the whole six years I never knew if they were alive or dead. Every time there was some sort of disaster I feared that he could be a victim.’
After being looked after by the French authorities, Alex met his step-grandfather at Toulouse airport on Saturday before boarding a flight to the UK, GMP said.
It is thought Alex has been living with his mother and grandfather, who took him to Spain in September 2017, across Spain, Morocco and France.
Last week, French prosecutors said the teenager’s mother, Melanie Batty, who does not have legal parental guardianship, may be in Finland.
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The teenager also spoke of what helped him cope with not being able to make any friends.