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Matthew Green, 32, vanished from his home at Sittingbourne in Kent on April 8, 2010 after saying he was going to meet some friends in London.

His parents have not heard from him in six years despite numerous public appeals.

Now they have been told he is alive and in Spain, but because of data protection laws, they are unable to make contact or know where he is.

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Pauline, 63, and Jim, 64, say a false allegation of rape meant Matthew was "never the same again".

During a police investigation, CCTV footage proved 17-year-old Matthew was 40 miles away from the place where the alleged attack took place.

At that point Matthew's 16-year-old accuser admitted she had made up the story.

His dad Jim said: "I think after everything that happened, it pushed him to the limit.

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(Image: FACEBOOK)

"From that time the boy we knew as outgoing, football and girls mad - he seemed to just stop.

"From that he was never the same. Police officers came round to apologise after, I said look at that young boy. That's what you've done to that young lad.

"He became very withdrawn. His social life just went to nil. He packed up playing football, he wouldn't go out.

"He began isolating himself in his bedroom and ate meals upstairs."

When Matthew vanished he took his passport, birth certificate, driving licence, bank card, £1,700 in cash and a card allowing him to work on construction sites.

This week Matthew's parents were told that Spanish cops became concerned about his welfare and carried out DNA tests on him.

Spanish police realised that he was on the missing person's register and his parents were informed of his existence.

It is alleged that Matthew was being sought by Spanish police over a petty theft.

Matthew's parents are determined to find him and plan to enlist the help of a private investigator.

They have also written a letter to the British Embassy in Madrid but are uncertain if these will ever reach Matthew.

(Image: SWNS)

His mum Pauline said: "All I want to do is see him. We've had this for six years. We've been on a roller coaster and now we're stuck at the top.

"We're overjoyed, but they won't tell us anything. The police have closed the book now, so it is with the authorities in Spain.

"I've written him a letter and sent it to the consulate in Madrid. But they won't even tell me if Matthew has read it – citing data protection.

"It is just a waiting game now. We want him to phone home, then we can find out where he is."

Kent Police have closed its missing person inquiry into Matthew Green.