A 19-year-old university student from northeast England, arrested in Georgia for drug trafficking, told a court she was coerced under torture and pleaded for mercy — but judges refused her bail.
A Scar, A Hot Iron, And A Plea: Inside Bella Culley’s Emotional Courtroom Moment
Standing in front of a Georgian judge, Bella Culley pulled up her sleeve.
With a trembling voice, the teenager from Billingham pointed to a scar on her right wrist — her words echoing through the courtroom like a cry for help. “I didn’t want to do this,” she said. “I was forced through torture.”
The court listened, but it didn’t budge.
Denied bail, Culley will remain in detention in Tbilisi, where she’s already been held for over 50 days since her arrest at the capital’s international airport in May. Officials say she was carrying 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish inside a travel bag. If convicted, she could face a lengthy sentence.
A Missing Teen in Thailand, Then an Arrest in Georgia
Culley’s story started somewhere far from the courtroom — in Thailand.
The teenager reportedly went missing while traveling in Southeast Asia. What exactly happened between her disappearance and her arrival in Tbilisi remains murky. But what’s now clear is that she was arrested at the airport on May 10, after customs agents flagged her luggage.
She claims she had no clue what was in it.
“She didn’t even know where Georgia was on the map,” said her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, during the pre-trial hearing. Salakaia, who does not speak English and typically handles juvenile cases, said Culley was threatened with a hot iron and coerced into traveling with the bag.
She allegedly tried to alert Thai customs authorities, “but nobody paid attention.”
That detail — if proven true — might haunt border officials later.
Family Pleads, Pregnancy Revealed, But Bail Rejected
What makes this case even more complicated is Culley’s condition.
According to her defense, the 19-year-old is 18 weeks pregnant. Her family, desperate to get her home or even temporarily released, offered 50,000 Georgian lari — around £13,500 — as bail.
The court turned it down.
There’s no official explanation yet for why bail was denied. Georgian prosecutors have argued they need more time to probe whether Culley was planning to hand the drugs off to someone or if she acted alone.
For now, she remains in a detention cell.
One line from her court appearance stood out sharply: “I am a good person. I am a student at university. I don’t do drugs.” That’s the version of Bella her family believes in.
And they’re not alone.
British Officials Step In As Case Gains Attention
Culley’s arrest has sparked concern back home.
The UK Foreign Office confirmed it’s supporting her family. They’re providing consular assistance, though officials haven’t disclosed details about any direct diplomatic pressure on Georgian authorities.
While Britain and Georgia maintain generally warm relations, this case has placed the spotlight on Georgia’s judicial system — and how it handles foreign nationals.
A Foreign Office spokesperson said, “We are supporting a British national who was arrested in Georgia and are in contact with local authorities.”
That’s about as much as they’re saying for now.
Still, the case is starting to gain traction in the UK media and online — especially with public sympathy growing over the torture claims and the teenager’s pregnancy.
What Prosecutors Are Alleging — And The Missing Puzzle Pieces
So what are the charges?
Authorities say Culley knowingly transported over 14kg of illegal drugs into the country. It’s one of the most serious categories under Georgian law.
Here’s what we know so far:
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She was caught with a suitcase containing marijuana and hashish.
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She flew in from Thailand but reportedly had limited knowledge of her final destination.
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She claims she was coerced and tried to alert Thai officials, but was ignored.
There’s still no clear information about who may have been waiting for her in Georgia — or whether there’s a larger trafficking ring involved.
And that raises questions of its own.
A Case That’s Shaping Up to Be Politically Sensitive
The fact that Bella Culley is British — and pregnant — means this isn’t just another drugs case.
It’s emotional. It’s messy. And it’s political.
As news spreads, comparisons are already being drawn with other high-profile cases involving Western nationals held abroad under disputed circumstances. Think Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe in Iran, or Billy Hood in the UAE.
But Georgia isn’t Iran. Nor is it Thailand.
Still, the optics of a crying British teenager pleading for mercy, showing her wounds in court, and claiming she was tortured — while being denied bail — are already shaping public opinion in the UK and beyond.
And make no mistake, that kind of pressure doesn’t just vanish.
What Happens Next — And How Long Could This Drag On?
Culley’s pre-trial detention clock has been ticking for 52 days.
The case is still under active investigation. No formal trial date has been set yet. If charges move forward — and if she’s convicted — the penalties under Georgian law could range from 8 to 20 years in prison depending on the classification of the offense.
To help understand the stakes, here’s a brief comparison:
| Country | Drug Possession Penalty (Large Amounts) | Bail Likelihood | Max Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | Very strict, no leniency for foreigners | Rare | 20 years |
| Thailand | Extremely strict, death penalty possible | Unlikely | Life/Death |
| UK | Up to 14 years | More likely | 14 years |
That paints a stark picture.
Even if Culley is telling the truth, the burden of proof will be on her — and her defense will need to convince a foreign court that she was just a victim in a much bigger operation.
