London ( Parliament Politics Magazine) Pregnant British teenager Bella May Culley, 19, has been released from a Georgian prison after a plea deal in a drug smuggling case. She was sentenced to time served after spending nearly six months in custody, with her family paying a £140,000 fine.
A British teenager, Bella May Culley, who was arrested in Georgia earlier this year on serious drug smuggling charges, has been freed from a Georgian prison after serving nearly six months in custody.
The 19-year-old, who is pregnant, was released on Monday following a plea agreement that included a fine of 500,000 lari (approximately £140,300). Her family paid the fine as part of the deal, bringing an emotional close to a case that has drawn widespread attention in both the UK and Georgia.
Arrest and Charges
Culley was arrested in May at Tbilisi International Airport after authorities discovered 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish in her luggage. Georgian officials accused her of attempting to smuggle the drugs into the country, a crime that carries severe penalties, including up to 15 years or life imprisonment under Georgian law.
Following her arrest, police footage released in May showed the teenager in handcuffs during her initial court appearance. The case quickly gained international coverage due to her age, pregnancy, and the serious nature of the allegations.
At her first hearing, Culley pleaded not guilty, claiming that she had been tortured in Thailand and forced to carry the drugs against her will. Her legal team argued that she had been manipulated by a trafficking network operating across Asia and Europe.
Verdict and Plea Agreement
On Monday morning, a court in Tbilisi found Culley guilty of drug smuggling but sentenced her to five months and 25 days in prison, equal to the time she had already served since her arrest.
As part of the plea deal, her family agreed to pay the 500,000 lari fine, effectively securing her immediate release.
According to prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili, the Georgian authorities had initially considered a two-year sentence but decided to take into account the time Culley had already spent in custody. “We decided to consider the time she has already served,” he told the Associated Press.
Emotional Reaction in Court
The verdict brought tears of relief to both Culley and her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, who had been present at nearly every court hearing since May.
As the judge read the decision, both women wept and embraced. Wearing a cream blazer, Culley appeared overwhelmed as she stepped out of custody surrounded by reporters and photographers.
When asked how she felt, she simply replied, “I’m happy,” admitting that she did not expect to be released that day.
Her mother held her hand tightly as they walked out of the court together, both visibly emotional after months of uncertainty.
Legal Representatives and Statements
Culley’s lawyer, Malkhaz Salakhaia, confirmed that she would be handed back her passport and allowed to leave Georgia immediately.
“Bella is free to return home today,” he said. “She has completed her sentence as part of the plea agreement.”
The plea bargain was seen as a significant legal relief for the teenager, who could have faced over a decade behind bars if found guilty without such an arrangement.
Under Georgian law, financial plea agreements are sometimes permitted, allowing defendants to reduce or eliminate prison sentences in exchange for fines or compensation payments. Such arrangements are particularly common in drug-related cases, officials said.
Background: Missing in Thailand
Before her arrest, Culley had been reported missing in Thailand, raising fears among her family about her safety. It was later discovered that she had traveled from Thailand to Georgia, where she was detained upon arrival on May 10.
Her family had been campaigning for her release for months, maintaining that she was a victim of trafficking and not a deliberate drug courier.
Global and Public Reaction
Culley’s case has drawn widespread attention in the UK, particularly because of her young age and pregnancy. Advocacy groups for women’s rights and anti-trafficking organizations have urged authorities to conduct a deeper investigation into her claims of coercion and abuse while abroad.
Public sentiment in the UK has been largely sympathetic, with many calling for better protection for young people who fall victim to international trafficking networks.
Meanwhile, Georgian officials have defended their legal process, saying the country’s justice system treats all foreign nationals equally and that the plea bargain was reached according to established legal procedures.
A Difficult Journey
Since her detention in May, Culley has been held in a women’s correctional facility in Tbilisi, where, according to her lawyer, she faced challenging conditions. Reports suggest that she received limited prenatal care during her incarceration, prompting concerns for her health and that of her unborn child.
Her family, who traveled to Georgia shortly after her arrest, frequently visited her and worked closely with both British consular officials and local lawyers to negotiate her release.
Looking Ahead
Following her release, Culley is expected to return to the UK within the coming days. Her legal team has not confirmed whether she plans to take further action regarding her alleged treatment in Thailand or Georgia.
Speaking briefly outside the court, her mother said, “We’re just grateful this nightmare is over. We want to go home and focus on Bella’s health and her baby.”
British consular officials in Tbilisi expressed relief at the outcome, confirming that they had been in regular contact with Georgian authorities throughout the case.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said, “We have supported a British national detained in Georgia and are pleased to see the matter resolved. We continue to provide consular assistance to the family.”
Legal Context in Georgia
Georgia, a nation of 3.7 million people in the South Caucasus, maintains strict anti-drug laws, with trafficking offences often carrying lengthy prison sentences. However, the country’s legal system also allows for plea agreements involving financial penalties, which can significantly reduce jail time in specific cases.
These agreements are subject to judicial approval and are typically used when prosecutors determine that mitigating factors—such as cooperation, first-time offences, or humanitarian grounds—warrant leniency.
Culley’s plea deal appears to have been influenced by her young age, pregnancy, and the time already spent in detention.
