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A nine-year-old boy in Nersac, France, lived alone for two years after his mother abandoned him. Neighbours alerted police, leading to the mother’s arrest. She received an 18-month suspended sentence
From 2020 to 2022, the child survived on sweets, canned food, and occasional help from neighbours. (Representative/Shutterstock)
A shocking incident has emerged from the small town of Nersac in France. A nine-year-old boy lived alone in a cold flat for two years after his mother abandoned him to live with her boyfriend.
From 2020 to 2022, the child survived on sweets, canned food, and occasional help from neighbours while his mother resided comfortably just 5 km away. She would visit sporadically to bring him food, but never took him with her.
Astonishingly, the neighbours remained unaware of the boy’s situation for several months, as he continued attending school alone. It was only when the neighbours grew suspicious and alerted the police that the grim reality was uncovered. This story has since gone viral on social media.
Upon the police’s arrival at the flat, prompted by the neighbours’ complaint, they were taken aback by the sight of an empty fridge, a dustbin filled with cake wrappers, and numerous empty boxes. Investigations confirmed that no adults had been present in the flat for months. The boy revealed during questioning that he had been living alone for two years, with only occasional visits from his mother.
The police soon located the boy’s 39-year-old mother, Alexandra, at her boyfriend’s house in Cyruil City. It was discovered that she had kept her son’s existence a secret from her neighbours as well.
During interrogation, Alexandra claimed that her son lived with her, a statement proven false by the police investigation. Consequently, she was arrested and brought to court. Even in court, she refused to admit her wrongdoing.
When questioned by the judge about her son’s statement that she had left him alone for two years, Alexandra responded, “I don’t know why he says so.” She maintained that she dropped her son at school every day, but her phone’s location data disproved this claim.
Despite her refusal to accept responsibility, the court sentenced her to an 18-month suspended sentence for child neglect. She will not go to jail but must comply with certain conditions, including wearing an electronic ankle bracelet for six months. The boy was placed in foster care last year and has since severed all ties with his mother, who has only visited him twice.
A teacher from his school described him as “very mature, strong and self-reliant, perhaps more than necessary.” Enduring harsh winters without heating, sleeping under multiple quilts, bathing in cold water, and living in darkness forced him to grow up quickly. Remarkably, despite these hardships, he attended school every day and performed so well that his teachers remained unaware of his plight. This incident, which occurred in 2023, continues to circulate widely on social media.
