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Scottish Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Brit teen ‘cannabis smuggler' Bella Culley, 18, arrested in Georgia is great-granddaughter of late Labour grandee
She regularly posted pictures with her "special lady" grandmother - who is the late MP's daughter LABOUR LINKS Brit teen 'cannabis smuggler' Bella Culley, 18, arrested in Georgia is great-granddaughter of late Labour grandee A BRIT teen held in Georgia accused of smuggling 30lb of marijuana is the great-granddaughter of a Labour MP who was caught up in the parliamentary expenses scandal. Bella May Culley faces life in prison in a brutal ex-Soviet slammer after she was arrested at Tbilisi airport on suspicion of drug smuggling. Advertisement 6 Bella May Culley, 18, faces being caged in an overcrowded ex-Soviet jail after being arrested on drug smuggling charges Credit: @ / tiktok 6 She was arrested at Tbilisi airport on suspicion of drug smuggling Credit: East2West 6 Labour MP Frank Cook, who represented the Stockton North constituency until 2010 Credit: PA:Press Association 6 The 18-year-old appeared in court earlier this week, where she said was pregnant before stating she would reserve the right to remain silent. But the nursing student from County Durham is the great-granddaughter of ex-Stockton North Labour MP Frank Cook, who passed away in 2012, the MailOnline has reported. Culley is reported to regularly post pictures with her "special lady" grandmother - who is the late MP's daughter. In one post wishing her happy birthday, she says she loves her "unconditionally" before calling her "one of the most important ladies in my life". Advertisement Cook, who represented Stockton North for 27 years, was among the MPs implicated in the 2009 expenses row that rocked Westminster to its core. It transpired he had claimed for £153,902, which included a £5 donation made by an aide representing him at a memorial service. However, he would later explain this donation was an IOU from the member of staff who went to the service on his behalf - and that he expensed it by mistake. "It was a genuine mistake and I stress again: I would never deliberately make a claim of this kind," he said. Advertisement He would later lose a libel case against The Sunday Telegraph following the revelations. Cook stood as an independent candidate in his constituency at the 2010 general election after being deselected by Labour, but he failed to retain the seat. He died in 2012 at the age of 76 - a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Culley was arrested after she was allegedly caught trying to sneak 34 bags of marijuana in her luggage through the Georgian capital's main airport. Advertisement She had been reported missing in Thailand - where she had been travelling - before she was arrested 4,000 miles away. Her family had raised the alarm after she failed to contact anyone since Saturday - despite usually being a prolific texter. Her dad Neil Culley, who lives in Vietnam, has reportedly flown to the Eastern European nation to be by his daughter's side. 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. Advertisement "She must have become mixed up with someone. She must have met someone who has taken advantage of her." Authorities in Georgia claim she tried to stash 34 bags of cannabis in her luggage which was detected at the airport. RIOTS, HUNGER STRIKES AND STRIP SEARCHES... LIFE IN A BRUTAL GEORGIA PRISON A report by Georgia's ombudsman into Women's Penitentiary No. 5 outlines the horrors that could await the Brit teenager. "When prisoners are received at the No.5 Facility, they are inspected naked and are requested to squat, which the inmates consider degrading treatment," the report reads. "According to inmates, this procedure is especially humiliating and intensive during an inmate's menstrual cycle." Hygiene problems are said to be rampant, with reports of no running drinking water and clogged drains. Just earlier this year, the journalist Mzia Amaglobeli went on hunger strike inside the women's prison in protest against Georgia's government. In 2006, a Tbilisi prison saw seven inmates killed and 17 seriously injured in one of the country's worst ever prison riots. Authorities were accused of using excessive force. A Human Rights Watch report has found Georgia's prisons are "severely overcrowded" - which threatens the safety of inmates. Georgia's Interior Ministry says she could face 20 years or even a life sentence in an overcrowded Women's Penitentiary No. 5 in Rustavi The country has been blasted for its treatment of its prisoners by rights groups. Advertisement Culley's paternal 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." Bella's lawyer said after her court appearance: "My client is currently exercising the right to remain silent, so we will provide detailed information later, once they decide how to proceed." Advertisement 6 Bella appears in court in Georgia earlier this week Credit: East2West
The Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Brit teen ‘cannabis smuggler' Bella Culley, 18, arrested in Georgia is great-granddaughter of late Labour grandee
A BRIT teen held in Georgia accused of smuggling 30lb of marijuana is the great-granddaughter of a Labour MP who was caught up in the parliamentary expenses scandal. Bella May Culley faces life in prison in a brutal ex-Soviet slammer after she was arrested at Tbilisi airport on suspicion of drug smuggling. 6 6 6 6 The 18-year-old appeared in court earlier this week, where she said was pregnant before stating she would reserve the right to remain silent. But the nursing student from County Durham is the great-granddaughter of ex-Stockton North Labour MP Frank Cook, who passed away in 2012, the MailOnline has reported. Culley is reported to regularly post pictures with her "special lady" grandmother - who is the late MP's daughter. In one post wishing her happy birthday, she says she loves her "unconditionally" before calling her "one of the most important ladies in my life". Cook, who represented Stockton North for 27 years, was among the MPs implicated in the 2009 expenses row that rocked Westminster to its core. It transpired he had claimed for £153,902, which included a £5 donation made by an aide representing him at a memorial service. However, he would later explain this donation was an IOU from the member of staff who went to the service on his behalf - and that he expensed it by mistake. "It was a genuine mistake and I stress again: I would never deliberately make a claim of this kind," he said. He would later lose a libel case against The Sunday Telegraph following the revelations. Cook stood as an independent candidate in his constituency at the 2010 general election after being deselected by Labour, but he failed to retain the seat. He died in 2012 at the age of 76 - a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Culley was arrested after she was allegedly caught trying to sneak 34 bags of marijuana in her luggage through the Georgian capital's main airport. She had been reported missing in Thailand - where she had been travelling - before she was arrested 4,000 miles away. Her family had raised the alarm after she failed to contact anyone since Saturday - despite usually being a prolific texter. Her dad Neil Culley, who lives in Vietnam, has reportedly flown to the Eastern European nation to be by his daughter's side. 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." Authorities in Georgia claim she tried to stash 34 bags of cannabis in her luggage which was detected at the airport. A report by Georgia's ombudsman into Women's Penitentiary No. 5 outlines the horrors that could await the Brit teenager. "When prisoners are received at the No.5 Facility, they are inspected naked and are requested to squat, which the inmates consider degrading treatment," the report reads. "According to inmates, this procedure is especially humiliating and intensive during an inmate's menstrual cycle." Hygiene problems are said to be rampant, with reports of no running drinking water and clogged drains. Just earlier this year, the journalist Mzia Amaglobeli went on hunger strike inside the women's prison in protest against Georgia's government. In 2006, a Tbilisi prison saw seven inmates killed and 17 seriously injured in one of the country's worst ever prison riots. Authorities were accused of using excessive force. A Human Rights Watch report has found Georgia's prisons are "severely overcrowded" - which threatens the safety of inmates. Georgia's Interior Ministry says she could face 20 years or even a life sentence in an overcrowded Women's Penitentiary No. 5 in Rustavi The country has been blasted for its treatment of its prisoners by rights groups. Culley's paternal 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." Bella's lawyer said after her court appearance: "My client is currently exercising the right to remain silent, so we will provide detailed information later, once they decide how to proceed." 6
The Irish Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Brit teen ‘cannabis smuggler' Bella Culley, 18, arrested in Georgia is great-granddaughter of late Labour grandee
A BRIT teen held in Georgia accused of smuggling 30lb of marijuana is the great-granddaughter of a Labour MP who was caught up in the parliamentary expenses scandal. Bella May Culley faces life in prison in a 6 Bella May Culley, 18, faces being caged in an overcrowded ex-Soviet jail after being arrested on drug smuggling charges Credit: @ / tiktok 6 She was arrested at Tbilisi airport on suspicion of drug smuggling Credit: East2West 6 Labour MP Frank Cook, who represented the Stockton North constituency until 2010 Credit: PA:Press Association 6 The 18-year-old appeared in court earlier this week, where she said was But the nursing student from County Durham is the great-granddaughter of ex-Stockton North Labour MP Frank Cook, who passed away in 2012, the MailOnline has reported. Culley is reported to regularly post pictures with her "special lady" grandmother - who is the late MP's daughter. In one post wishing her happy birthday, she says she loves her "unconditionally" before calling her "one of the most important ladies in my life". Cook, who represented Stockton North for 27 years, was among the MPs implicated in the 2009 expenses row that rocked Westminster to its core. It transpired he had claimed for £153,902, which included a £5 donation made by an aide representing him at a memorial service. However, he would later explain this donation was an IOU from the member of staff who went to the service on his behalf - and that he expensed it by mistake. "It was a genuine mistake and I stress again: I would never deliberately make a claim of this kind," he said. Most read in The Sun He would later lose a libel case against The Sunday Telegraph following the revelations. Cook stood as an independent candidate in his constituency at the 2010 general election after being deselected by Labour, but he failed to retain the seat. He died in 2012 at the age of 76 - a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Culley was arrested after she was allegedly caught trying to sneak 34 bags of marijuana in her luggage through the Georgian capital's main airport. She had been reported missing in Thailand - where Her family had raised the alarm after she failed to contact anyone since Saturday - despite usually being a prolific texter. Her dad Neil Culley, who lives in Vietnam, has reportedly flown to the Eastern European nation to be by his daughter's side. 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." Authorities in Georgia claim she tried to stash 34 bags of cannabis in her luggage which was detected at the airport. RIOTS, HUNGER STRIKES AND STRIP SEARCHES... LIFE IN A BRUTAL GEORGIA PRISON A report by Georgia's ombudsman into Women's Penitentiary No. 5 outlines the horrors that could await the Brit teenager. "When prisoners are received at the No.5 Facility, they are inspected naked and are requested to squat, which the inmates consider degrading treatment," the report reads. "According to inmates, this procedure is especially humiliating and intensive during an inmate's menstrual cycle." Hygiene problems are said to be rampant, with reports of no running drinking water and clogged drains. Just earlier this year, the journalist Mzia Amaglobeli went on hunger strike inside the women's prison in protest against Georgia's government. In 2006, a Tbilisi prison saw seven inmates killed and 17 seriously injured in one of the country's worst ever prison riots. Authorities were accused of using excessive force. A Human Rights Watch report has found Georgia's prisons are "severely overcrowded" - which threatens the safety of inmates. Georgia's Interior Ministry says she could face 20 years or even a life sentence in an overcrowded Women's Penitentiary No. 5 in Rustavi The country has been blasted for its treatment of its prisoners by rights groups. Culley's paternal 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. Read more on the Irish Sun "It's all just very strange and at the moment we just don't have any answers. We don't know what to think." Bella's lawyer said after her court appearance: "My client is currently exercising the right to remain silent, so we will provide detailed information later, once they decide how to proceed." 6 Bella appears in court in Georgia earlier this week Credit: East2West 6 Labour MP Frank Cook Credit: Alamy
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: Teenage British 'drugs mule' currently locked up in an ex-Soviet jail for 'smuggling 30lbs of cannabis' is the great-granddaughter of a late Labour MP
A British student accused of smuggling 30lbs of cannabis into Georgia is the great-granddaughter of a late Labour MP who was caught up in the expenses scandal, MailOnline can reveal. Bella May Culley, 18, is facing years in a 'decaying and overcrowded' prison in the ex-Soviet state after she was arrested at Tbilisi airport on suspicion of drug smuggling. The teen appeared at the city's court yesterday where she declared she was pregnant before invoking her right to remain silent. She is the descendant of former Stockton North MP of 27 years Frank Cook, who died in 2012 aged 76 a year after being diagnosed with lung cancer. Culley regularly posts pictures of herself with her 'special lady' grandmother Christine, Mr Cook's daughter, whom she shares a close bond with. In one wishing her a happy birthday she tells how she loves her 'unconditionally' before describing her as 'one of the most important ladies in my life' The veteran backbencher was at the centre of the expenses scandal row in 2009 when it emerged he had claimed for £153,902 - including for a £5 donation made by an aide representing him at a Battle of Britain service. Mr Cook later explained the claim, on a handwritten note, was an IOU from a member of staff who attended the service and made the donation on his behalf. He described feeling like 'such a stupid t**t' before adding: 'It was a genuine mistake and I stress again: I would never deliberately make a claim of this kind.' He later lost a libel case against The Sunday Telegraph with a bill for legal costs causing his estate to shrink from £769,115 to £336,688. He stood as an independent in the 2010 General Election but finished fifth and lost his deposit. Mr Cook's four adult children were left nothing in his £340,000 will, with all of his estate being left to his 'too perfect' exiled Laotian princess second wife Somsangouane Baldinger. It left Christine and her siblings - Alex, Nicola, Maxine, and Andrew - reeling with them being left nothing to remember him by. They instead received a box containing £30 worth of items with 'nothing meaningful' inside. It comes as his great-granddaughter appeared to have been living a life of luxury, scuba diving and partying on the tropical islands of Palawan and Panay in the Philippines, where she explored coastal caves and played with turtles. In posts on TikTok and Instagram, Culley also flaunted huge stacks of cash, showing off a pile of £10 and £20 notes held together by a hairband. However, her online posts stopped abruptly last week, sparking fears from her family that she may have vanished while on a trip to Thailand. Unbeknownst to them, Culley had been detained more than 3,000 miles away in Georgia after allegedly being caught carrying 30 pounds (14kg) of cannabis at Tbilisi International Airport. Her lawyer confirmed to the Mail that her father Niel is now en route to Tbilisi. His sister Kerrie was due to fly to Thailand to help search for Bella May - but discovered while at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport that her niece had been detained in Georgia. William Culley told the Mail his granddaughter was 'intelligent' and 'not daft' and would not knowingly have involved herself with drugs. Mr Culley said: 'We feared the worst because nobody knew where she was. 'Kerrie called me last night and said she had been found. I said: ''How can you have found her? You're in Schiphol''. And she said: ''we found her, she's in jail... 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.' Mr Culley described his granddaughter as a 'normal' 18-year-old who lived with her brother and mother in social housing in Billingham. She told the court she chose to remain silent about the charges brought against her She had recently completed a college course in Middlesbrough and was making plans to enter the nursing profession. 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. 'We are just hoping that somebody can do something. She must be terrified.' A former Georgian police officer warned of the lengthy jail sentences the British teen could face. The nursing student, who has been preliminarily detained for two months as investigations continue, is currently 'terrified and confused', according to the lawyer. It appears she was detained in a planned sting operation by the Black Sea nation's elite Special Tasks Department, a unit within Georgia's Central Criminal Police that deals only with the most high-profile cartel and organised crime cases. Former police general Jemal Janashia, one of the country's foremost drug crime experts, told the Mail: 'The fact that she was detained by CrimPol's Special Tasks Department suggests this wasn't a random search, but a planned operation. 'And the quantity of drugs found on her makes it hard to remain optimistic.
