British teenager Bella May Culley, 19, who is reportedly eight months pregnant and due to give birth in December, has been at the center of a high-profile drug-smuggling case in Georgia. The student nurse from Billingham, Teesside, was arrested at Tbilisi airport in May after being found with a substantial quantity of illicit substances. Authorities alleged she attempted to smuggle approximately 11-12kg of marijuana (cannabis) and between 400g to 2kg of hashish into the country.

Culley's journey to Georgia was not straightforward; she had reportedly disappeared in Thailand in May before arriving in the country, which sits on the border of Europe and Asia. In a harrowing account, Bella claimed she was subjected to torture by gangsters in Thailand, who allegedly branded her with an iron and showed her a video of a man being decapitated, threatening similar consequences if she did not comply with their demands to traffic drugs. During a hearing in July, she asserted, "I didn't want to do this. I was forced by torture... All I wanted to do was to travel." She pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into Georgia, having flown from Thailand via the United Arab Emirates.

Following her arrest, Culley was initially held at Rustavi Prison No 5, where her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, described extremely harsh conditions. Reports indicated she endured a primitive environment, including a hole in the ground for a toilet, only one hour of fresh air each day, and communal showers available just twice a week. During this period, to cope with the limited resources, Bella resorted to toasting bread over a candle flame and boiling pasta in a kettle.

Her situation has since improved significantly, as she has been transferred to a prison with a dedicated mother-and-baby unit. Lyanne Kennedy confirmed to the BBC that her daughter's new conditions include more time outdoors, with two hours allocated for walking daily. Critically, she now has access to a communal kitchen, a shower in her own room, and a proper toilet. The communal aspect of the unit allows residents to cook for each other, with Bella reportedly making dishes like eggy bread, cheese toasties, and salt and pepper chicken, indicating a stark contrast to her previous confinement.

The case has brought attention to Georgia's severe laws and penalties concerning drugs and drug trafficking. Culley accepted a plea deal negotiated by her lawyers with judicial authorities in Georgia. Initially facing a potential sentence of up to 20 years, the agreement aimed to significantly reduce her time. Her parents, Lyanne Kennedy (a charity worker) and Niel Culley (49, an oil rig technician), managed to pay a hefty fine of 500,000 Georgian Lari, equivalent to over £137,000-£138,000. While this substantial sum was not enough to secure her immediate release, it was crucial in reducing her potential prison sentence to an expected two years. Bella is formally scheduled to receive her sentence next week, on Monday.

Despite the plea deal and the reduced sentence, Bella's lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, has stated his intention to appeal to the president of Georgia for a pardon once the agreement is finalized. Her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, conveyed the family's unwavering commitment to bringing Bella home "where she should be," emphasizing that they are doing everything they can for her daughter and future grandson. Kennedy added that Bella's full story "will come in time," underlining the family's focus on her well-being and return.