Nineteen-year-old Bella May Culley, a pregnant teenager from Teesside, England, has been released from a Georgian prison after spending nearly six months in custody on serious drug-smuggling charges. Her release followed a plea deal that included a significant financial settlement, marking the end of a case that drew international attention due to its complex and emotional circumstances. Culleyās ordeal, which began with her arrest in Tbilisi in May, highlights the dangers faced by young travellers abroad, the harsh realities of foreign justice systems, and the human cost of international drug-trafficking prosecutions.
Arrest and Charges in Tbilisi
Bella May Culleyās arrest took place on 10 May at Tbilisi International Airport, where Georgian authorities alleged she was attempting to smuggle a substantial quantity of illegal substances into the country. According to official reports, the 19-year-old was found with approximately 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish. Under Georgian law, such an offence carries extremely severe penalties, including the possibility of a lengthy prison term or even life imprisonment.
From the moment of her arrest, the case attracted significant media attention, both in Georgia and the United Kingdom. Bella May Culley was not only young but also pregnant, and her familyās appeals painted a picture of a vulnerable teenager caught up in circumstances beyond her control. She initially denied the charges, claiming that she had been coerced into carrying the drugs after being subjected to torture while in Thailand. Her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, later confirmed that she displayed visible signs of physical abuse when she arrived in Georgia.
The story took on international dimensions when it was revealed that Culley had been reported missing in Thailand prior to her arrest in Tbilisi. Details remain unclear about how she ended up in Georgia or who may have been involved in her movements between the two countries. What is known is that she was detained immediately upon arrival and held in a Georgian detention facility as prosecutors prepared their case.
During her detention, reports suggested that Bella May Culley faced severe emotional and physical stress, compounded by her pregnancy and the language barrier within the prison system. Georgian authorities maintained that the legal process was being conducted according to national law, while her family and supporters in the UK expressed growing concern about her treatment and the possibility of a harsh sentence.
The Plea Deal and Court Verdict
After months of legal proceedings and negotiations, a plea deal was eventually reached between Bella May Culleyās defence team and Georgian prosecutors. The agreement required the payment of 500,000 Georgian lari, roughly equivalent to Ā£137,000, which Culleyās family managed to provide. This financial settlement, allowed under Georgian law, enabled the court to consider the time she had already spent in custody as sufficient punishment for the crime.
On Monday, a Georgian court formally found her guilty but sentenced her to five months and twenty-five days in prisonāprecisely the duration of her pretrial detention. The outcome effectively secured her immediate release. Her lawyer, Salakaia, confirmed that she would now be given her passport and permitted to leave the country without further restrictions.
Culleyās emotional reaction in the courtroom reflected the intensity of the previous months. Both she and her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, wept as the verdict was read. Kennedy told the Associated Press that she had not expected her daughter to be released and had prepared herself for the possibility that they would only be reunited after the babyās birth. The decision, which came unexpectedly, was described by the family as a moment of profound relief.
19-year-old Bella May Culley has been released from prison in Georgia after being held on drug smuggling charges. ā
— Sky News (@SkyNews) November 3, 2025
ā
š Read more: https://t.co/ICWRjEqWfr pic.twitter.com/bEhKxNiYzU
Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili stated that authorities had initially considered a two-year sentence but chose to factor in the time Culley had already served in detention. He noted that the final decision was consistent with the principles of Georgian criminal law, which permits financial plea agreements in certain cases, particularly those involving drug-related offences.
The Georgian justice system, while strict in its approach to narcotics offences, provides limited flexibility for negotiated settlements. Such plea agreements are relatively common in the country and are often used to resolve cases more quickly while still ensuring accountability. In Culleyās case, the agreement prevented what could have been a devastatingly long prison term, sparing her from serving the remainder of her pregnancy behind bars.
Aftermath and Reactions to the Case
Bella May Culleyās release has prompted a wave of relief among her family and supporters, who had campaigned quietly for her freedom over the past several months. Her lawyer expressed gratitude to the court and to those who had worked to finalise the plea deal, while emphasising the difficult circumstances surrounding her arrest and detention. He reiterated that she had been a victim of coercion and abuse prior to arriving in Georgia, circumstances that had not been fully explored during the trial.
Her mother, who had travelled to Georgia to attend court proceedings, expressed her gratitude to the legal team and described the experience as emotionally exhausting. She added that her primary concern had always been her daughterās safety and the health of her unborn child. The two are expected to return to the United Kingdom once all administrative procedures are completed.
The case has also drawn attention to broader issues of human trafficking, drug smuggling, and the exploitation of vulnerable young travellers. Investigators in both Georgia and the United Kingdom have not yet confirmed whether Bella May Culley was acting independently or under duress, though her claims of torture and coercion have led some observers to suspect that she may have been a victim of a trafficking network. The Thai connectionāher disappearance there and the alleged abuse before her arrival in Tbilisiāremains an unresolved element of the case.
Legal experts have pointed out that the use of financial plea deals in Georgia reflects an effort by the judiciary to balance punitive justice with pragmatic outcomes. However, critics argue that such agreements may disadvantage those unable to pay large sums, creating disparities in access to justice. In Culleyās case, her familyās ability to raise the required amount undoubtedly played a decisive role in her early release.
The British Foreign Office has not commented extensively on the case but is believed to have provided limited consular support during her detention. UK officials typically offer assistance in ensuring fair treatment and communication with legal representatives but refrain from direct involvement in foreign judicial decisions.
Culleyās future remains uncertain. Though she is now free, the physical and psychological toll of her ordeal is likely to linger. Her claims of being tortured in Thailand may yet prompt further investigation, and she will have to rebuild her life while preparing for motherhood. Legal experts have suggested that she could pursue further action to clear her name or to investigate the circumstances of her alleged abduction and abuse abroad.
Her case serves as a reminder of the complex intersections between international law, human rights, and global drug enforcement. For young travellers, it underscores the dangers of being caught up in transnational criminal schemes, particularly in regions where legal systems operate very differently from those in Western Europe. For policymakers, it raises questions about how to better protect citizens overseas and ensure that victims of trafficking or coercion are identified before being prosecuted as offenders.
In Georgia, the outcome of Culleyās case may also serve as a precedent for future plea agreements involving foreign nationals. The case has demonstrated how judicial discretion and financial settlements can be used to resolve high-profile drug charges without imposing maximum sentences, particularly in situations where humanitarian factorsāsuch as pregnancyāare involved.
As Culley prepares to return home, her story stands as both a warning and a lesson in resilience. From her arrest at Tbilisi airport to her unexpected release, her six months in a Georgian prison reveal the profound vulnerability of individuals caught at the crossroads of crime, coercion, and international justice. For her family, the nightmare is finally over; for observers, the questions it raises about trafficking, accountability, and compassion in the global justice system are likely to persist for some time.