Brit ‘smuggler' Bella Culley's cash wad & ‘Bonnie & Clyde' brag on TikTok before arrest 4,000 miles away from Thai hols
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THE BRIT teen arrested for smuggling 30lb of marijuana into Georgia boasted on TikTok about her "criminal" lifestyle before getting caught.
Bella May Culley, 18, from County Durham, disappeared while travelling in south-east Asia and reappeared in handcuffs in Tbilisi.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
15
Bella bragged of a 'Bonnie and Clyde' lifestyle on TikTok
Credit: TikTok
15
She showed off huge wads of cash
Credit: @bellamay.xx/TikTok
15
Bella went on a trip to the Philippines and then took a detour to Thailand
Credit: Facebook
15
Bella appeared in court in Georgia today, where she did not comment on the charges
Credit: East2West
15
Police say they found 34 bags of cannabis in her luggage while trying to enter Georgia
Credit: East2West
She appeared in court today after being detained at the city's airport on suspicion of hiding 34 bags of cannabis in her luggage - and could face 20 behind bars.
Now, clips of Bella bragging about making piles of cash and living a "Bonnie n Clyde" lifestyle have emerged.
One TikTok video shows Bella posing on a balcony, captioned: "Blonde or brunette? Erm how about we get up to criminal activities side by side like Bonnie n Clyde."
It goes on: "Making heavy figures and f*****g on balconies all over the world".
Another post flaunts huge stacks of cash, with her clutching a bundle of £10 and £20 notes held together by a hairband.
The online brags about making money and crime began before she jetted to south-east Asia a few weeks ago, just after Easter.
Out in Asia, evidence of her lavish lifestyle continues with videos of Bella partying, lounging on beaches, scuba diving and smoking marijuana in the back of a cars.
But her content suddenly dried up last week - along with her messages back home.
Her family were clueless at first and put out a desperate plea for information, fearing Bella was still in Thailand and missing.
But yesterday, Georgian authorities released photos of Bella being marched while handcuffed into a police station.
Brit tourist, 18, reported missing for days in Thailand is arrested on 'drug offences' in Georgia 4,000 miles away
Airport staff had stopped her on the way in and allegedly found 34 bags of cannabis in her luggage.
The aspiring nurse could face 20 years in an overcrowded former Soviet prison or even a life sentence, the country's Interior Ministry said.
Taking the stand today, she told the court she was pregnant before adding she would reserve the right to remain silent.
She is said to be 'confused and terrified'.
15
Georgian authorities released footage showing the British teen in handcuffs
Credit: East2West
15
Police in Georgia released images of the alleged hoard the British teen is accused of trying to smuggle into the country
Credit: East2West
15
The cannabis was wrapped in black bags in her luggage, police said
Credit: East2West
15
Her baffled dad Neil Culley, who lives in Vietnam where he works off-shore, is flying to Eastern Europe to be by his daughter's side in Georgia today.
A loved-one said: 'She is just a student - she doesn't really go out or do anything like that. She just wanted a break so took herself to Thailand.
'She must have become mixed up with someone. She must have met someone who has taken advantage of her.'
Meanwhile Bella's paternal grandfather William Culley, 80, said he feared he may not see his 'intelligent' granddaughter again and said "she's not an international drug trafficker".
Bella went travelling with a friend to the Philippines last month and then decided to take a spontaneous trip to Thailand on May 3.
Her mum, Lyanne, told The Sun that went to reconnect with some people she met on a previous trip to the country.
Her family raised the alarm during her holiday after she failed to contact anyone since Saturday, despite usually flooding her family with texts, sparking a huge international search operation.
They had no idea that she had even left Thailand and were shocked to learn of her arrest in a different continent.
Her mum previously said that Bella "doesn't like the party lifestyle", so it was even more of a shock to hear she was accused of a major drug smuggling operation.
The Brit remained silent on the charges when she appeared in court today.
15
Bella posted videos of her smoking in the back of cars
Credit: @bellamay.xx / tiktok
15
She told her mum she was going to Thailand to reconnect with friends she previously made in the country
Credit: Facebook
15
She posted regularly to her social media accounts - but all communication dried up at the weekend
Credit: Facebook
Major Georgian TV outlet Rustavi 2 in a text report said that Bella May Culley had told the Tbilisi court that she was 'pregnant'.
The judge remanded her in custody.
Meanwhile, mystery surrounded a string of company directorships Bella appeared to hold, despite being described as a "normal student" and family and friends having no idea about them.
Records showed apparent links to the Far East - with Bella listed as the director of at least two companies with Chinese ties.
Speaking at his home in Billingham, Co Durham today, Bella's grandfather said: 'I'm terrified that she's in for a long sentence. I might never see her again - I'm 80 years old.
'She's got sucked into something, somehow. She's not an international drug trafficker.
'It's all just very strange and at the moment we just don't have any answers. We don't know what to think."
He said his granddaughter was 'intelligent' and 'not daft' and would not knowingly have involved herself with drugs.
'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.'
Mr Culley described his granddaughter as a 'normal' 18 year old who lived with her brother and mother in social housing in Billingham.
Mr Culley said: 'She's not daft, she's an intelligent girl. Why has she done it? Has someone dangled money in front of her?
'We just don't know what has gone on until we get out there and talk to her.
15
Bella could be jailed for 20 years if found guilty
Credit: @bellamay.xx / tiktok
15
Mum Lyanne told The Sun that Bella didn't like the party lifestyle
Credit: Facebook
15
Bella had been enjoying her holiday in the South East Asia
Credit: Facebook
Her Georgian lawyer told reporters today: "My client is currently exercising the right to remain silent, so we will provide detailed information later, once they decide how to proceed.
"A formal request must be submitted to the relevant authority, and then more detailed information regarding my client can be provided.
"At this stage, [she is] invoking [her] right to silence, and further developments will be shared later once a decision is made."
Culley's lawyer said: 'The person under my protection is currently exercising the right to silence and, accordingly, I will provide all the detailed information later, when she decides to provide detailed information to the investigative bodies regarding the charges brought against her.'
Bella could face decades behind bars in Georgia's only female prison, Tbilisi Prison number 5.
The prison has been previously criticised for being 'degrading', 'inhuman' and 'an affront to a civilised society' by a European committee.
Bella recently completed an access course at Middlesbrough College and hopes to become a nurse - but first wanted to go travelling.
Before her reappearance in Georgia, Bella's mum Lyanne Kennedy, 44, told The Sun: "Her dad lives in Vietnam, so she's always wanted to see Asia.
'She loves all the touristy stuff, like releasing turtles."
Bella flew out to the Philippines with a friend - and Thailand wasn't even on the agenda to begin with.
But when her pal went to Ibiza, she decided to head in a different direction because "she doesn't drink that much and isn't really into the party lifestyle".
Instead, Bella travelled on to Thailand around May 3.
Lyanne said: "I really didn't want her to go to Thailand.
'I begged her to come home. I don't trust some of the boys over there.
'But she wanted to meet up with some friends she made over there on a previous trip. I don't know who any of them are."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Secrets of the feared mafia family who fled to the UK to escape a life of crime among Sicilian murderers - and serve pizzas in Essex
MOB RULE My brutal family shot rivals & blew up judges in Mafia's most infamous massacre…I'd be dead if I hadn't fled to UK at 12 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HIS family tree is a rogues' gallery of hitmen, murderers and extortionists and were even behind the infamous bombings that killed two Sicilian judges and eight police officers in 1992. And at 12 years old, Riccardo di Cascia Burzotta was being lured into the dangerous underworld of the mafioso. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 15 Riccardo di Burzotta escaped the clutches of the Sicilian mafia Credit: Supplied 15 The Capaci massacre, in 1992, which killed prominent judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife and three guards Credit: EPA 15 Magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino were murdered in the massacres Credit: Getty In his native Sicily, the Burzotta clan are woven into the fabric of the Mafia's most grisly crimes - and Riccardo was being groomed by older cousins into following their criminal way of life. But in a brave move which 'saved his life', his parents fled the Italian island for the UK - starting a new life in Southend on Sea in Essex. 'Before they were even in their teens my cousins were burning down shops to send messages to people who didn't pay their protection money," Riccardo tells The Sun. "If we stayed living in Sicily I would have joined them because I didn't really understand how dangerous it was and I didn't know any better. 'I was born into that life which meant I had little choice but to join the Mafia. 'When I was a kid it was normal for everyone to keep guns in the house for self protection. 'There wasn't much work around, most kids tended to drop out of school early and get caught up in crime. 'My parents feared I'd be drawn to the money and power." Riccardo's parents set up a restaurant business in Southend and he says coming to the UK was "a huge shock.' 'I didn't speak a word of English but suddenly I found myself in an all boys' school in Essex having to eat something disgusting called custard. I could not believe how bad the food was," he says. Italian police arrest Settimo Mineo, the mafia's new 'boss of bosses' in Sicily 'There was a lot of racism towards foreigners back then and I was called every name under the sun and beaten up in the playground almost daily. 'But if I had stayed in Sicily it would have been worse. I'm certain I would have ended up in prison - or dead. "The Mafia is an ugly cancer that destroys families. We needed to get well away before I ended up in prison myself. 'My parents' decision to start a new life in another country saved my life, without any doubt.' 15 Riccardo is from a family linked to murders, terrorism, arson, extortion and corruption Credit: supplied 15 Riccardo landed work in an Italian restaurant in Essex Credit: supplied Deadly family Riccardo has cousins serving time for murders, while other members of his close family have been involved in kidnapping and extortion. Some were also tangled up even the Capaci massacre - a violent terrorist attack in which mafiosi detonated a car bomb that killed the anti-Mafia judge Giovanni Falcone, his wife and three police guards in 1992. It was one of the most terrifying attacks ever executed by the Mafia and the international outrage it sparked marked a crucial turning point in the fight against organised crime in Italy. But, two months later, it was followed by the Via D'Amelio massacre in Palermo, killing a second judge, Paulo Borsellino, and five bodyguards. The murdered prosecutors had been at the forefront of a crackdown in organised crime in Sicily which led to the notorious Maxi Trial, which ran for six years and saw 19 life sentences handed to crime bosses and a further 338 members of the mob sentenced to a total of 2,665 years. Salvatore 'Toto' Riina - known as 'the Boss of Bosses' - was sentenced to two life sentences in absentia and ordered the assassination of the judges in retribution. He was captured and jailed in 1993 after 23 years as a fugitive. 15 Judge Giovanni Falcone died in the car bomb Credit: Getty 15 Borsellino and five guards died in the second attack Credit: Alamy 15 Sicilian Mafia boss Toto Riina was known as The Beast and The Boss of Bosses Credit: Reuters Riccardo's family also fell foul of Sicily's anti-Mafia crackdown. In 2016, authorities seized over €4 million in assets from Giuseppe Burzotta and his family, including a sitting councillor. But the murders continued. In 2017 Guiseppe Marciano, a known associate of Riccardo's family, was shot in the head. Killers ambushed him in a Fiat Uno and although the car was burnt to destroy any evidence, Marciano's father in law Pino Burzotta - Riccardo's second cousin - was later arrested. If I had stayed in Sicily it would have been worse. I'm certain I would have ended up in prison - or dead. Riccardo di Burzotta Pino's brother Diego Burzotta, a notorious hitman, was already serving a life sentence for the double murder of Giovanni Ingoglia and Salvatore Guccione, killed between 1982 and 1987. He was also sentenced to nine years for Mafia association and for attacking vice commissioner Rino Germanà, who escaped death after a daring chase by the clan's hitmen in 1992. Another cousin, Luca Burzotta, was convicted of Mafia association and Pietro, was acquitted of a similar charge due to contradictory testimony from witnesses. Now a father of four himself, Riccardo has no contact with his Sicilian clan but has revealed the truth about his family's dark past to his own children. 'They were shocked when I told them about my childhood," he says. 'We go back to Sicily for holidays but I never speak to my cousins. "I nod if I see them in the street but that's as far as it goes. 15 Riccardo returns to Sicily but avoids many of his relatives Credit: supplied 15 Any contact with Riccardo's relatives could mean a prison sentence Credit: Supplied 'We've all been warned to stay away from them - any contact could mean an automatic prison sentence. "Many of my cousins have been involved in gambling rackets and extortion, meaning any shops or business that didn't pay them protection money would go up in flames. 'It's too risky to associate with them. It's too risky to associate with my family, Ricardo di Burzotta "I hear about more arrests every day - members of my family and old friends I went to school with, it is beyond me how far they were willing to go. 'I plan to keep my own kids well away from it but I don't hide anything from them. 'They understand their heritage and it's important to teach them the value of who they are but I want them to keep on a straight path and understand that not all Sicilians are mafioso.' 15 As a teenager Riccardo was on the verge of a life of crime Credit: supplied 15 His life in Southend on Sea is free from the stigma of his surname Credit: supplied Food for thought Riccardo's move to the UK, at the age of 12, allowed him to forge his own path away from crime. Although he hated the British weather and could not stand the food, Riccardo kept his head down, stayed out of trouble and did well at school. He helped out in his parents' Italian restaurant in Southend, learnt to speak fluent English and Spanish, excelled at Maths and History, and landed a job in a City stockbroking firm. He said: 'That was like winning the lottery, a real eye opener. 'I was earning great money, travelling the world and loving the fast lifestyle.' Now 48, Riccardo remains on a mission to distance himself from the stigma of his surname. He has retired from finance and is focusing on encouraging entrepreneurial young Sicilians to choose a career in food. 15 Now Riccardo wants to focus on helping entrepreneurs Credit: Supplied 15 A father of four, he wants the next generation to follow a new path Credit: Supplied He says: 'My family's name is a burden, but it's also a responsibility. I want to show that we can choose a different path. 'We can't let the mistakes of our fathers define our children's future. Sicily's youth deserve more than the shadow of the Mafia. 'Change starts at the table. If we can break bread together, we can break the cycle.' Although police are working to dismantle Mafia control in Sicily, investigators warn that intimidation and corruption persist. And the statistics are daunting. Mafia activity has cost Sicily billions in lost economic potential. We can't let the mistakes of our fathers define our children's future Ricardo di Burzotta Anti-Mafia organisations estimate that extortion and racketeering have siphoned off up to two per cent of Sicily's GDP each year. In just one 2018 crackdown, police arrested 58 people from 16 Mafia families, seizing €11 million in assets. The Mafia's stranglehold has deterred investors, stifled innovation, and driven away the island's brightest young minds. Youth unemployment in Sicily stands at a staggering 37 per cent, nearly double the Italian national average. Every year, tens of thousands of young Sicilians leave in search of opportunity, draining the island of talent and hope. A new generation Riccardo believes the antidote to this malaise is teaching entrepreneurial young Sicilians to cook, run businesses, and celebrate their heritage. He hopes to foster a new generation of entrepreneurs through his campaign, Mobster Munch, which aims to munch away Sicily's mobster past and dish out a future built on celebrating food and family. He was inspired to help Sicily's youth by his own grandmother who, amid the violence and secrecy, preserved traditional culinary skills. Although she was a matriarch to mobsters, Leone Malda Burzotta also taught Riccardo how to cook her original Sicilian recipes. 'Sicily's youth deserve to inherit the recipes, the laughter, and the hope my grandmother gave me," added Riccardo. 'Food brings people together. Family gives us strength. 'We can't let the mistakes of our fathers define our children's future.' As part of his campaign he will host pop-up feasts, cooking classes, and food festivals across Sicily and the UK. The message is simple but powerful - every bite is a step away from the Mafia's grip, and a step towards a future built on honest work where crime once ruled.
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
We had to launch Mission Impossible-style hospital escape to bring my boy home to die – I won't get over the trauma
Teddie's mum is campaigning for more access to grief counselling - see her petition below CATCH ME IF YOU CAN CATCH ME IF YOU CAN We had to launch Mission Impossible-style hospital escape to bring my boy home to die – I won't get over the trauma Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TEENAGER with just days to live was forced to evade security guards as he fled through a hospital, before jumping into a getaway car - just so he could die at home. Teddie Marks, 18, was wheelchair-bound, with his legs swelled up from cancer but was able to show off his athletic prowess one last time during the comedic mad dash. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 15 Teddie Marks died from a rare and aggressive cancer Credit: Jay Marks 15 Teddie with his heartbroken mum Jay Credit: Jay Marks 15 The teen was forced to flee the hospital Credit: Jay Marks Mum Jay - who is campaigning for more access to grief counselling for bereaved families - explained how everything had been put in place to allow her son to receive palliative care at the family's home in Braintree, Essex. However, at the last minute, as they left University College London Hospital they were confusingly told Teddie had to stay, against his wishes. Security was called and they were to be blocked from leaving - but the adventurous young man was having none of it. Mum-of-three Jay, 42, said: 'He's 18, they got all his paperwork ready, they gave us all his medication, they said to us he was going to be blue-lighted because from UCLH to Braintree it's a bit of a drive. 'Then they said they were going to get a normal ambulance but I would have to sign responsibility for him, which was fine… then we're told that's been cancelled.' Jay continued: 'In the end, the palliative care nurse fitted him up with a 24-hour pump so that we could get him home and hook him up to the machine.' 'That makes no sense' The family then got into a lift on the 15th floor with the palliative care nurse, alongside a 'bag of medication' and all of Teddie's things from weeks of being in and out of hospital - when they hit another speed bump. 'On the way down she had a call and she was like 'right okay', then she said 'they've called security',' explained Jay. 'We were like what? That makes no sense because she was with us and he'd been discharged. 'Teddie was an adult and sound of mind, and he'd told them he wanted to go home.' The symptoms of sarcoma cancer including tummy pain Not wanting to stick around to find out what was going on, Teddie, who was being pushed in a wheelchair, as well as his mum and dad Joseph, and two other relatives, bolted. 'When the lift doors opened on the ground floor we ran, we were gone,' said Jay. 'We were literally running through the hospital and the nurse was shouting 'stop!' 'They didn't catch up to us, and poor Teddie, he jumped in the car, bearing in mind his legs were all swollen, he had lymphedema where the fluid wasn't going back upwards because of where the tumour was sitting. You've never seen him move so fast. He jumped out of the wheelchair, jumped in the car and went 'drive!' Jay Marks 'You've never seen him move so fast,' continued Jay. 'He jumped out of the wheelchair, jumped in the car and went 'drive!'' Joseph's two aunts, who had been with them at the hospital, stayed behind and later told the family the nurse burst into tears. 'She was crying and she was saying 'I'm happy they got to go' because it wasn't her that had called security - it had been higher up,' explained Jay. 'They'd already given him his discharge papers and everything we needed, it made no sense. It's funny to look back on now, what everyone else must have been thinking.' 15 Teddie was just 18 when he passed away Credit: Jay Marks 15 Jay and Teddie as a toddler Credit: Jay Marks 15 Teddie (centre) with his sister Robyn and brother Harrison Credit: Jay Marks That was on July 12 2024 and on the 14th Teddie finally passed away. It had been a tough journey since his shock diagnosis at age 16 in 2022 with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in soft tissue. 'It's quite rare but quite aggressive, and it tends to come back even if you get rid of it,' explained Jay. 'He did have a six-month period when he got rid of the cancer, and then he relapsed in July 2023, and then we've had a long battle.' Trips to Germany The family was told there was nothing more the NHS could offer and so they spent tens of thousands of pounds, via GoFundMe, to travel to Germany multiple times - the last of which was days before Teddie died. 'We'd been seeing different professors that had tried different treatments,' said Jay. 'Unfortunately, the last professor we tried, he was having some success, and the month after that treatment, Teddie was feeling much better. 'All the swelling in his legs had gone down, he was feeling much better, but by that time the cancer had spread and we didn't catch it.' Teddie knew he was dying as he'd flown to Germany the last time, but didn't want to give up. 'His words were 'I'm not going to die without trying',' said Jay. 'He was fighting the whole time.' Asked if he'd been able to get alternative treatment sooner she believes her son could have survived, Jay said: 'I think so. The NHS will say 'no, no' but they are so ignorant to what is out there in Europe, it's unbelievable.' 15 Teddie was a talented footballer Credit: Jay Marks 15 Jay described him as the 'perfect' child Credit: Jay Marks 15 The teen was originally diagnosed with cancer in 2022 Credit: Jay Marks After Teddie relapsed in March 2023 he was given an operation and it was 'made clear' by the consultants that they'd 'tripled checked' with the surgeons that Teddie's cancer could be removed with 'clear margins', said Jay. 'Because if it couldn't they weren't going to touch it. They said 'the surgeons are really sure'.' 'After the operation, as soon as Teddie came round, he said 'did you get it with clear margins?' and they said 'we can't be sure'. 'It must not have been checked properly,' Jay said. 'When he had scans four to six weeks after the op, nodules had appeared. 'I think at that point if we'd gone to Germany, Teddie would have stood a better chance.' £100,000 in 24 hours The GoFundMe page set up to help the teen receive alternative treatments 'went over £100,000 in the first 24 hours', said Jay. 'GoFundMe got in touch to say they had never seen one go up that quickly.' All of that and more went on private testing and treatments abroad. 'I can't sit here and say don't listen to the NHS because overall they were amazing, but it's frustrating that there are these treatments out there,' said Jay. 'Don't get me wrong, the hospital was amazing, especially the nurses who go above and beyond.' 15 Teddie playing video games in hospital Credit: Jay Marks 15 He battled cancer bravely for two years Credit: Jay Marks 15 Teddie even passed his driving test while he underwent chemo Credit: Jay Marks But with all other hope lost, with the help of Farleigh Hospice, in Braintree, Teddie was able to die in the comfort of his own home. 'He knew what he was going home for,' said Jay. 'It was absolutely heartbreaking because you know you are saying bye to your child. 'We sat up every night. He had his family here, his aunts, his uncles and his cousins. 'Don't be depressed' 'At one point, Teddie said 'don't be depressed, put some music on',' she added, laughing. Teddie had always been the one to keep the family's spirits up, even throughout his illness. 'He was such a good boy,' said Jay. 'There were days after he got diagnosed where I couldn't get up, couldn't function and he would come in and say to me, 'up you get, Mum'. 'He had such strong faith, he was quite religious - even when Teddie was dying, he had all the family here and was cuddling his girl cousins and he said 'don't cry for me, I know where I'm going.' 'That boy was absolutely something else.' Teddie had first been getting pain in August 2021, and by November he was 'in agony' and 'was up three or four nights straight', said Jay, who took him to A&E multiple times. However, they were sent away again and again and told to take over the counter painkillers. 15 He didn't let cancer stop him from remaining positive Credit: Jay Marks 15 Teddie was even joking with his family on his death bed Credit: Jay Marks 15 University College London Hospital, where Teddie was treated Credit: The Sun Jay said Teddie was 'very robust', he was captain of Chelmsford City EJA, but even his pain threshold was being pushed to the limit. Eventually, the family paid for a private doctor and MRI scan, then an operation which found abscesses. The doctor sent off for a biopsy at UCLH and then a week later a phone call confirmed the worst. 'It was during lockdown so everything was a bit dodgy,' said Jay. 'I got told over the phone that Teddie had cancer and was given a treatment plan.' During his treatment Teddie refused to stop, and passed his GCSE Maths and English - the latter to an A* standard - while undergoing chemotherapy. And even passed his driving test. But while his memory lives on, Jay is still as heartbroken now as she was a year ago. 'You can't prepare yourself' 'You know it's coming but you can't prepare yourself,' she said of her son's death. 'I can't put it into words, it's coming up to a year but I'm still devastated every day. Me and his dad, brother and sister, and his nan. There's not a day that goes by that we don't cry.' She added, of her children: 'They'll always be my babies.' Taking up the baton left by Teddie, his mum is now campaigning herself to raise awareness about the wait times families must endure to receive grief counselling. After filling out a form she was told by the hospice the waiting list is nine to 12 months. Jay said: 'Last week I had an email from Farleigh saying they've got this session thing, it's not one to one counselling, there's other people there. 'There's 10 spaces and to get back to them if I wanted a place. 'I saw the email, 40 minutes later, by the time I got back they'd emailed me saying all the spaces had gone.' Jay said she had another email from the hospice asking since it was a 'considerable amount of time since I put my application in for counselling, have my circumstances changed?' 'They did get an email back saying 'my circumstances haven't changed, unfortunately my son hasn't risen from the dead, I'm still grieving and still in need of support'. She continued: 'It's not going to change. I just can't get my head round that it can take this long to sort… any grief is bad, but when you've lost your child, I can't explain it. It's unexplainable.' Jay went on to say: 'I said to my doctor, 'they're lucky I'm not suicidal'. If he was my only child maybe I would be suicidal but I have two other children who I need to look after. It's not going to change. I just can't get my head round that it can take this long to sort… any grief is bad, but when you've lost your child, I can't explain it. It's unexplainable. Jay Marks 'I carry the family's grief. My daughter, her and Teddie were 10 months apart - she's got ASD, so she's on the spectrum, and Teddie was her comfort blanket. 'She struggles really badly. Then my eldest son, who's 23 now, he will just struggle silently. 'I feel like I have to carry on because I don't want them to see my grieving and think they've got to carry my grief.' She added: 'I do feel passionately that there are parents going through this and you have to wait a year. We can't go privately. 'My husband sold his company when Teddie got diagnosed because we were backwards and forwards to UCLH. He's a caretaker now and I'm a support assistant in a school.' Jay said: 'I've lost people but nothing compares to losing your child, especially when you've watched your child go through what he did for two and a half years. 'You get a lot of flashbacks, I'm sure it's PTSD. You're replaying stuff continuously. It's traumatising when you hear your baby, though he was 18, in the night screaming in agony. 'It's traumatising to remember the running from the hospital, the taking him to Germany when he was in agony.' She described Teddie as 'my best mate', adding: 'I know parents say that about their kids but he was like my right arm. 'He was always with me, we were always together. We had the same sense of humour. We were always laughing. 'No one could get you in tears of laughter like Teddie could. For me, I'm still completely lost.' Michelle Kabia, Interim Chief Executive at Farleigh Hospice, said: 'Ensuring that the families of our patients receive the best quality support throughout their loved ones illness and afterwards is our absolute priority. "Our bereavement support services are offered free of charge to anyone within mid Essex. "As a result they are in incredibly high demand, as reflected in our current waiting lists, which we are actively working to reduce. 'We regularly stay in touch with people on the waiting list to check how they are, offer interim bereavement support options while they wait for one to one counselling, and check whether their circumstances have changed, as people may have accessed alternative support or moved out of the area. "We welcome all feedback and are continually looking to improve our services. We would be very happy to have a further conversation with the family.' The Sun has also approached University College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for comment Click here to see Jay's grief counselling petition. Do you have a similar story? Email
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Scottish footballer sends opponent to HOSPITAL after on-field confrontation turns violent
The victim required stitches and for his tooth to be re-inserted after the brief confrontation Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A SCOTTISH football match turned violent as one player sent another to hospital after a brief confrontation. The offending player has appeared in court and pleaded guilty to the charge. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A Scottish footballer was sent to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after a confrontation on the pitch Credit: Alamy 2 The offender appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court and pleaded guilty to the offence Credit: Alamy Stephen McGachy, of Arrochar, was playing in an over-40s match at the Mountblow football pitches in Clydebank. Just after the hour mark, McGachy was fouled by an opponent and became embroiled in an argument over the severity of the tackle. The player pushed McGachy, who then knocked the other man to the ground. He split his lip and was taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, where he needed 10 stitches and his incisor tooth had to be re-inserted. McGachy appeared at Dumbarton Sheriff Court and pleaded guilty to the February 19, 2023 assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement. He had originally appeared on petition for a more serious version of the charge. Sheriff Kevin Duffy accepted that McGachy was a first offender and he pleaded guilty at the earliest stage, and that the crime was under provocation. He fined McGachy £400, plus a victim surcharge of £20, as well as having to pay £200 in compensation to the other player. Sheriff Duffy said: "Clearly this offence is out of character." McGachy's lawyer Judith Reid added: "This matter has hung over him for some considerable period of time. Shocking moment blood-soaked thug throws Buckfast bottle as brawl erupts during Celtic fans' trophy day party "The statement from the match official makes clear that the complainer pushed the accused. "Both teams were up in umbrage about the tackle. "A man who had difficulties in his childhood has done everything to move on and lead a trouble-free life. He has not been in any trouble since. "He fully appreciates the complainer had suffered an injury and might merit compensation, despite the provocation. "I think the injuries are more unfortunate as a result of the physical altercation that started as a result of the complainer." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
