Bella May Culley, a reportedly pregnant teenager who faces charges of drug smuggling behind the decaying walls of a notorious women’s prison, has allegedly been denied medical care
Georgia: Bella May Culley appears in court on drugs charges
Suspected drug smuggler Bella May Culley has reportedly made a complaint to prison medics after expressing fears over the realities of being pregnant behind bars in a hellhole jail. The 18-year-old was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport on May 11, after being reported missing in Thailand.
The teen has been accused of allegedly smuggling 12kg of cannabis and around 2kg of hashish into Georgia following her travels in South East Asia. Although cannabis was legalised for recreational use in Georgia back in 2018, with limited possession also being decriminalised, the selling of cannabis also remains illegal.
Bella, who is originally from Billingham, Teesside, could now face life in prison, with the prosecutor having requested 55 days to gather evidence ahead of her trial, as per her lawyer, Mariam Kublashvili. Bella has claimed she is pregnant, and it’s been reported that Georgian officials will now conduct a medical examination to confirm this.
For now, the teenager awaits her fate behind the walls of Women’s Prison No.5 in Rustavi, south of the ex-Soviet state’s capital, Tbilisi, where there are concerns over her welfare as a reportedly expectant mother.
READ MORE: Bella May Culley ‘received no medical treatment despite her pregnancy’
Celeb lawyer Kublashvili, who previously appeared on Georgia’s version of Strictly, has said: “She is pregnant and needs medical care, which she complained she wasn’t getting – there were no tests/checks or medical examinations done, she told me. She said she asked for a doctor, but the doctor wasn’t speaking English and they couldn’t understand each other.”
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Daily Mail, Ms Kublashvili stated: “She asked me for tuna fish which I thought was odd and might have been something to do with pregnancy cravings – but fish cannot be sent in.”
Since offering her services to Bella pro bono during their half-hour meeting on Monday (May 19), Ms Kublashvili has shared how the teen “would very much like to go home”. Kublashvili revealed: “Initial impression was very positive – she is very open, very pleasant, charming.
“She doesn’t fit a profile of [a] drug trafficker at all. For anyone with any experience in dealing with such legal cases, it would be quite obvious that she is a victim here, [that] she’s been used and manipulated. I have a 20-year-old child myself and can only imagine what her parents must be feeling.”
Reports indicate that Georgia’s Women’s Prison No. 5. has gained some notoriety for some of the inmates it houses, including sledgehammer killer, Magda Papidze, regarded by many as Georgia’s most evil woman. Concerns have also been raised regarding the poor conditions which reportedly fall far short of the needs of a pregnant woman.
Multiple inmates are said to share single cells, where they are crammed into single bunk beds, while the building is said to be in a state of decay. One inspection procedure sees prisoners forced to squat in front of guards, a practice said to be particularly distressing when they are menstruating. There have been improvements in recent times, with the Soviet-era Facility having received funding.
However, it’s believed Bella could struggle and become isolated due to “language barriers”. James Pipe, a legal expert at Felons Assistance, warned to the Mirror: “This can have a serious impact on their mental health and ability to build a legal defence.”
Mr Pipe explained: “Being arrested abroad on drug trafficking charges – particularly with large quantities like the 14kg Bella Culley was reportedly found with – is among the most serious offences a tourist can face. In many countries, including Georgia, drug offences carry long custodial sentences, and prison conditions may not meet the standards we expect in the UK.
“Culley is now navigating a foreign legal system with limited rights and language barriers – a combination that can leave defendants isolated and extremely vulnerable. While her pregnancy adds another layer of urgency, it does not erase the severity of the charges she’s facing.”
He continued: “As for UK government intervention, it’s important to be realistic: they cannot override another country’s judicial system. The Foreign Office will usually provide consular support – such as checking on her welfare, ensuring she has legal representation, or helping with communication – but they won’t get involved in trying to overturn charges or influence the outcome of a trial.
“That said, where there are concerns about human rights – especially around access to medical care, fair trial standards, or prison conditions – the government can raise those diplomatically. But this is not a case of the UK stepping in to ‘rescue’ someone from justice abroad. It’s about ensuring that due process is followed and her rights, particularly as a pregnant detainee, are respected.”
At the time of writing, it’s unclear exactly how Bella has found herself in her current situation. However, her family have rubbished any notion that the British student is a drug trafficker. Bella previously bragged about living a “Bonnie and Clyde” lifestyle via TikTok, in reference to the infamous American crime couple, discussing engaging in “criminal activities side by side” and “making heavy figures.”
As well as likening herself to Bonnie, Bella mentioned meeting a man by the name of “Russ” or “Ross” during her time in the Philippines. This individual currently remains unidentified, while authorities are investigating any potential connection he may have to Bella’s subsequent activities
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