Bella May Culley was reported missing in Thailand before turning up nearly 4,000 miles away in handcuffs in Georgia, where she is accused of drug smuggling and faces life in prison
British teen Bella May Culley has been detained in Georgia where she could face life in prison over drug smuggling charges. The nursing student was apprehended on Monday after she allegedly smuggled 30lbs of cannabis into the ex-Soviet state.
“Terrified” Culley, 18, was initially reported missing in Thailand after concerned family members became alarmed that she was no longer posting to her social media profiles. She then turned up nearly 4,000 miles away, in handcuffs in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi. Culley’s family – some of whom are heading to Georgia – say the teen has “obviously” been taken advantage of.
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Her granddad William Culley, 80, said: “I’m terrified that she’s in for a long sentence. I might never see her again – I’m 80 years old.” Culley’s Georgian lawyer Ia Touda said her client was “confused” and “kind of lost”, as several key questions remain unanswered about the case…
READ MORE: Family say teen Bella May Culley was ‘obviously taken advantage of’ over ‘drugs plot’
Is Bella May Culley really pregnant?
Culley reportedly claimed she was pregnant in Tbilisi on Tuesday. Georgian officials will now carry out a medical examination to assess the veracity of her claims.
Her lawyer said her client was pregnant, before adding: “This was her first time in the court and she was terrified and confused, kind of lost. Because of that we decided to exercise the right to remain silent.
“In a few days, after we’ve had consultations and discussions, we’ll decide whether and how to adjust this position. New lawyers, private ones, both Georgian and British, will soon be involved and more details will be told.”
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Who is ‘Clyde’ mentioned on her social media?
The Brit student boasted of a “Bonnie and Clyde” lifestyle on her TikTok profile. Bonnie and Clyde were an infamous crime couple who became known for their bank robberies and crime spree in 1930s America.
In a video uploaded on April 1, Culley said: “Blonde or brunette? Erm how about we get up to criminal activities side by side like Bonnie n Clyde making heavy figures and f***ing on balconies over the world.”
“I don’t care if we on the runnnnn baby long as I’m next to uuu,” she captioned the video. It is unclear who Culley is referring to as Clyde’s stand in.
Georgia: Bella May Culley appears in court on drugs charges
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How did Bella May Culley get ‘sucked in’?
It is not clear how Culley ended up in the situation she finds herself in. Her family have rubbished any notion that she is a drug trafficker.
“She’s got sucked into something, somehow,” her granddad said. “She’s not an international drug trafficker. Can she even tell them who’s given her the drugs to take over?
“I bet she doesn’t. These people keep out of the way. It’s all just very strange and at the moment we just don’t have any answers. We don’t know what to think.”
After being told Culley had been detained in Georgia, William added: “I said, ‘in jail? what’s she doing in jail? And then she said, ‘drugs’. I couldn’t believe it. Who the hell has she been with?
“She was on holiday with some friends, doing what 18-year-olds do – drinking and dancing. They must have met somebody who’s taken advantage of her.”