Latest news with #Niel
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Daily Record
Bella Culley's dad visits pregnant 'drug smuggling' teen behind bars in Georgia
Bella Culley's dad Niel Culley has been spotted visiting his 18-year-old daughter in prison in Georgia for the first time since her arrest in May. British drug smuggling suspect Bella Culley has been reunited with her father who visited the teenager in a Georgian prison. The 18-year-old disappeared in Thailand before reappearing in Georgia, where she is now facing a potential life sentence for allegedly importing cannabis. Her father, Niel, was recently seen visiting Bella at the Women's Prison No. 5 in Rustavi, which is believed to be their first encounter since her arrest. The Briton, who has informed the court of her pregnancy, is being detained approximately 45 minutes south of Tbilisi, the capital of the former Soviet nation. This development follows the appointment of Bella's new solicitor, who has referred to the teen as "not far from childhood" and affirmed her readiness to defend herself. Niel, aged 49, was observed entering the penitentiary alone on Wednesday morning carrying a medium-sized dark blue bag. He was noticed leaving without the bag roughly 45 minutes later, indicating he may have delivered items to his daughter, reports the Mirror. Earlier in the week, a legal representative who had visited Bella mentioned that she had asked for fruit and warmer clothes. This comes after reports last week detailed Niel's distressing wait to see his daughter again. Bella had to formally request a family visit through the prison authorities. She was apprehended at Tbilisi International Airport on 11 May with approximately 12kg of cannabis and around 2kg of hashish. A conviction could result in a substantial period of incarceration, with the possibility of a life sentence in the most severe outcome. The teenager, from Billingham, Teesside, recently had her first meeting with her new family-appointed lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia. According to reports, Mr Salakaia had to explain her geographical location to Bella during their two-hour meeting. He described her as being in "good health" but stopped short of calling her a capable adult. The lawyer stated that Bella is prepared to defend herself in court and has no complaints about her detention facility. However, when asked if he considered her a mature adult, he replied, "no", saying she seemed "not far from childhood". During their meeting, Bella reportedly provided evidence to investigators. This comes after a celebrity lawyer, Mariam Kublashvili, visited Bella at the prison on Monday, describing the British teenager as "very open" and "charming". Although not officially representing Bella, Ms Kublashvili offered her services pro bono and reported that Bella complained about not receiving adequate medical care for her pregnancy, including a lack of tests, checks, and medical examinations. Bella allegedly requested a doctor, but they didn't speak English, leading to communication difficulties. The solicitor, who once appeared on Georgia's version of Strictly and represented speedboat killer Jack Shepherd, spoke highly of Bella. Kublashvili, 39, said: "Initial impression was very positive – she is very open, very pleasant, charming. She doesn't fit a profile of [a] drug trafficker at all. For anyone with any experience in dealing with such legal cases, it would be quite obvious that she is a victim here, [that] she's been used and manipulated. I have a 20-year-old child myself and can only imagine what her parents must be feeling." She further added: "[She] Asked me if a jumper and warmer clothes (size M) could be sent to her... She wants fruits as well – doesn't like what she is fed in the prison at all... Said she would very much like to go home." Bella is due to appear in court next on July 1.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Dad of Brit jailed abroad drops off bag at prison after she gave 'shopping list'
The 18-year-old's dad, Niel, has been spotted visiting Bella at prison in what is thought to be their first meeting since her arrest this month for allegedly importing cannabis British drug smuggling suspect Bella Culley has been reunited with her dad who has visited the teen behind bars in Georgia. The 18-year-old vanished in Thailand before turning up in Georgia where she faces life in jail after allegedly importing cannabis. Now dad, Niel, has been spotted visiting Bella at prison in what is thought to be their first meeting since her arrest. The Brit – who has told a court she is pregnant – is being held at Women's Prison No.5 in Rustavi, about 45 minutes south of the ex-Soviet state's capital Tbilisi. It comes as Bella's new lawyer has described the teenager as 'not far from childhood' – and said she is ready to defend herself. Niel, 49, was seen going into the prison alone on Wednesday morning with a medium-sized dark blue blag. When he was spotted about 45 minutes later he did not have the bag – suggesting he had dropped off supplies to his daughter. A lawyer who said she visited her earlier this week said the teenager had requested fruit and warmer clothing. It comes after we reported last week how dad Niel faced an agonising wait to be reunited with her. His daughter had to write to prison authorities requesting permission for a family visit. Bella – arrested at Tbilisi International Airport on 11 May – is accused of carrying about 12kg of cannabis and around 2kg of hashish into Georgia. If found guilty, she faces a lengthy prison spell — which could be life in the worst-case scenario. Meanwhile, the teenager, from Billingham on Teesside, is said to have had her first meeting with the new family-appointed lawyer. The lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, reportedly said he had to explain to Bella where she was geographically. Mr Salakaia said Bella was in "good health" – but would not describe her as an adequate adult, the BBC reported. Their first meeting was said to have lasted two hours. The lawyer said his client was ready to defend herself in court, the BBC reported. Mr Salakaia said Bella does not have any complaints about the location of detention. Asked whether he would describe Bella as an adequate adult, he answered "no". His impression was that she was "not far from childhood". During the meeting, Bella was reportedly also giving evidence to investigators. On Monday, we revealed how a celebrity lawyer said she visited Bella at the prison. Mariam Kublashvili described the British teenager as 'very open' and 'charming'. The lawyer, who offered her services to Bella for free but is not representing her, said: 'She is pregnant and needs medical care which she complained she wasn't getting – there were no tests / checks or medical examinations done, she told me. She said she asked for a doctor, but the doctor wasn't speaking English and they couldn't understand each other." The lawyer, who appeared on Georgia's version of Strictly, once represented speedboat killer Jack Shepherd. Kublashvili, 39, also said of Bella: 'Initial impression was very positive – she is very open, very pleasant, charming. She doesn't fit a profile of [a] drug trafficker at all. For anyone with any experience in dealing with such legal cases, it would be quite obvious that she is a victim here, [that] she's been used and manipulated. I have a 20-year-old child myself and can only imagine what her parents must be feeling.' She added: "[She] Asked me if a jumper and warmer clothes (size M) could be sent to her… She wants fruits as well – doesn't like what she is fed in the prison at all… Said she would very much like to go home.' Bella is next expected in court on July 1.
Metro
19-05-2025
- Metro
Bella May Culley's dad says he'll stay in Georgia 'as long as it takes'
The father of suspected teenage British drug mule Bella May Culley has spoken out about his daughter's ordeal after her arrest and shock pregnancy announcement last week. The 18-year-old was arrested in Tbilisi, Georgia, charged with illegally buying, possessing and importing a large quantity of drugs. Police say they found sealed packages of hash and cannabis in her suitcase after she flew from Thailand to the former Soviet country. Her father, Niel Culley, 49, has now said he's been unable to visit his child nearly a week after he flew to the country to be by her side. Niel told the Mail: 'I can't say anything but I will be here for as long as it takes. I obviously have no experience in dealing with situations like this, and it's very difficult.' Niel, who lives in Vietnam and works in oil, is with his sister Kerrie Culley in the Georgian capital in support of Bella. Bella's lawyer said police are seeking to establish where the haul of drugs had come from and whether she was planning to hand them on to someone. But the British teen faces a hellish prison sentence in one of the country's most notorious prisons if found guilty. Bella had been travelling through Asia, stopping in the Philippines and Thailand – all while showing off her travels online. Photos posted to her social media showed her enjoying typical tourist activities, including snorkelling and kayaking. But others suggested the trip might have been turning dark. In one photo, Bella held wads of cash tied up with a silk hairband, captioned: 'But nothing hurts when I'm with youuuuu' Another showed Bella in a bikini, with a caption alluding to a Bonnie and Clyde-like scenario. '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 all over the world? 'I don't care if we on the run baby, long as I'm next to you,' she said. More Trending After going off the radar for a bit, Bella resurfaced 4,000 miles away at Georgia's Tbilisi International Airport, where she was being held following the discovery of 30 lbs of cannabis. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment – 20 years in Georgia. Bella would serve any sentence in the country's only women's jail, the notorious Prison No. 5. The prison has been subject to controversy, with human rights groups criticising the treatment of prisoners housed there. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Man arrested on suspicion of murder after missing farmer's remains found MORE: Second arrest in connection with 'arson attacks' on properties linked to Starmer MORE: Suspect accused of bombing US fertility clinic 'had nihilistic ideations'
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Teen ‘smuggler' Bella Culley's dad vows to stand by his daughter – amid fears drug gangs are targeting Brit backpackers
THE distraught father of drugs charge teenager Bella Culley has vowed to stand by his daughter - amid new fears Far East drugs gangs are targeting British backpackers. Bella, 18, is on remand in a grim jail following her arrest in Georgia's Tbilisi airport with a suitcase of cannabis after going missing 4,000 miles away in Thailand. 6 Bella's dad Niel, who flew to Tbilisi last week, told The Sun he 'will be here for as long as it takes' Credit: Paul Edwards 6 Bella revealed in court that she was 'in love' with a mystery man and that she is pregnant Credit: Facebook 6 Niel and Bella's aunt Kerry Culley pictured after their meeting with Bella's lawyer La Todua Credit: Paul Edwards Bella's flight took off from the same Bangkok airport within hours of another pretty British trafficking suspect arrested with £1.2 million of a cannabis-related drug in Sri Lanka. Former air stewardess Their arrests have sparked fears that Thai gangs may be hoodwinking vulnerable British backpackers into ferrying their drugs after a crackdown on postal trafficking. Bella was facing at least nine months on remand in a grim Soviet-era jail alongside hardened criminals. Read more on world news She had joked online of 'Bonnie and Clyde' hijinks while showing off cash wads in the Far East and was pictured smoking a spliff.. Bella's family from Billingham, County Durham are convinced she was preyed upon after flying to the Far East to party with a mystery man feared to have hooked her up with drugs runners. Her dad Niel - a Vietnam-based oil rig electrician - flew to Tbilisi last week desperate for answers after tearful Bella told a court that she was pregnant. But he has yet to meet his daughter within the drab confines of No5 Women's Penitentiary on the outskirts of the Georgian capital and remains baffled by her plight. Most read in The Sun Asked about his plans after arriving in Tbilisi, Mr Culley, 49, told The Sun today: 'I can't say anything but I will be here for as long as it takes. 'I obviously have no experience in dealing with situations like this and it's very difficult.' Pregnant 'smuggler' Bella Culley faces raising her child in grim ex-Soviet prison 6 Bella from Billingham, County Durham, was seen in court in Tbilisi after being detained on suspicion of carrying 14kg of cannabis Credit: East2West Appearing shaky as he puffed on a cigarette, the anxious dad at one point appeared ready to make a statement when asked how his daughter was bearing up in prison. But he broke off to confer with Bella's aunt Kerrie Culley - who is supporting him in He added: 'I'm being advised by the British Embassy and can't comment at the moment. 'But that may change in the Fears are growing that a Thai drugs gang is preying on British backpackers this summer as Charlotte became the second Brit flying out of Bangkok to be arrested within days. She was detained at Colombo airport in Sri Lanka on Monday - the day after Bella's arrest - where police say she had a huge stash of kush - a synthetic strain of cannabis. Charlotte from Chipstead, Surrey was last night locked in a cell with 20 other prisoners with barely room to lie down as she awaited a court hearing. Bella took off first from Bangkok on a 20-hour flight via Sharjah in the UAE to Georgia while Charlotte left later on a three-hour direct flight to Sri Lanka. Both girls departed from the Thai capital during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony weekend - one of the busiest festivals of the year when airports are crammed with tourists. It is believed to have provided a prime opportunity for traffickers to operate mules - particularly attractive young Britons who arouse less suspicion. The two arrests follow a huge crackdown on smugglers sending cannabis to the UK by post. A joint operation by both countries has seen a 90 per cent in reduction in the drug being mailed to Britain since last year. It suggests Thai gangs may now be reverting to using drug mules to ship their products instead - and targeting British backpackers. Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022 which sparked a massive rise in the narcotic being posted to Britain. The law change allowed traffickers to hoodwink trippers into believing transporting it was legal. Thai checks of mail being shipped stopped 1.5 tonnes in the first quarter of this year - a 90 percent drop in the illicit cargo - in a drive which frustrated the gangs. Some 800 people including 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted smuggling since July 2024 with over nine tonnes of cannabis seized. Retired Georgian police chief General Jemal Janashia voiced concerns that backpackers were being targeted yesterday. He said: "The fact that two young British women have taken off with large quantities of drugs from the same airport will interest investigators. "They will be concerned about the possibility of a link and that Thai gangs may be attempting to recruit vulnerable British travellers. 'After the crackdown on postal drug deliveries, the Thai cartel are seeking new routes and Georgia does look like an attractive middle transit point. 'It's relatively close, and easy to reach Europe and is visa free to European travellers.' He added: 'I feel sorry for this woman because she was clearly used and manipulated. She's 18, she's a foreigner, pregnant. 'All of this indicates that she was chosen deliberately, chosen carefully, she was studied. 'Whoever chose her, they knew what they were doing.' 6 A female prison near Tbilsi, Georgia where suspected Brit drug mule Bella Culley is being held Credit: . 6 The exterior of Tbilisi Prison No.5, which is Georgia's only female prison Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Scottish Sun
18-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Teen ‘smuggler' Bella Culley's dad vows to stand by his daughter – amid fears drug gangs are targeting Brit backpackers
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE distraught father of drugs charge teenager Bella Culley has vowed to stand by his daughter - amid new fears Far East drugs gangs are targeting British backpackers. Bella, 18, is on remand in a grim jail following her arrest in Georgia's Tbilisi airport with a suitcase of cannabis after going missing 4,000 miles away in Thailand. 6 Bella's dad, who Niel flew to Tbilisi last week, told The Sun he 'will be here for as long as it takes' Credit: Paul Edwards 6 Bella revealed in court that she was 'in love' with a mystery man and that she is pregnant Credit: Facebook 6 Niel and Bella's aunt Kerry Culley pictured after their meeting with Bella's lawyer La Todua Credit: Paul Edwards Bella's flight took off from the same Bangkok airport within hours of another pretty British trafficking suspect arrested with £1.2 million of a cannabis-related drug in Sri Lanka. Former air stewardess Charlotte May Lee, 21, was in a gruesome Sri Lankan jail cell last night awaiting a court appearance. Their arrests have sparked fears that Thai gangs may be hoodwinking vulnerable British backpackers into ferrying their drugs after a crackdown on postal trafficking. Bella was facing at least nine months on remand in a grim Soviet-era jail alongside hardened criminals. She had joked online of 'Bonnie and Clyde' hijinks while showing off cash wads in the Far East and was pictured smoking a spliff.. Bella's family from Billingham, County Durham are convinced she was preyed upon after flying to the Far East to party with a mystery man feared to have hooked her up with drugs runners. Her dad Niel - a Vietnam-based oil rig electrician - flew to Tbilisi last week desperate for answers after tearful Bella told a court that she was pregnant. But he has yet to meet his daughter within the drab confines of No5 Women's Penitentiary on the outskirts of the Georgian capital and remains baffled by her plight. Asked about his plans after arriving in Tbilisi, Mr Culley, 49, told The Sun today: 'I can't say anything but I will be here for as long as it takes. 'I obviously have no experience in dealing with situations like this and it's very difficult.' Pregnant 'smuggler' Bella Culley faces raising her child in grim ex-Soviet prison 6 Bella from Billingham, County Durham, was seen in court in Tbilisi after being detained on suspicion of carrying 14kg of cannabis Credit: East2West Appearing shaky as he puffed on a cigarette, the anxious dad at one point appeared ready to make a statement when asked how his daughter was bearing up in prison. But he broke off to confer with Bella's aunt Kerrie Culley - who is supporting him in Georgia - and returned shaking his head. He added: 'I'm being advised by the British Embassy and can't comment at the moment. 'But that may change in the future depending on what happens.' Fears are growing that a Thai drugs gang is preying on British backpackers this summer as Charlotte became the second Brit flying out of Bangkok to be arrested within days. She was detained at Colombo airport in Sri Lanka on Monday - the day after Bella's arrest - where police say she had a huge stash of kush - a synthetic strain of cannabis. Charlotte from Chipstead, Surrey was last night locked in a cell with 20 other prisoners with barely room to lie down as she awaited a court hearing. Bella took off first from Bangkok on a 20-hour flight via Sharjah in the UAE to Georgia while Charlotte left later on a three-hour direct flight to Sri Lanka. Both girls departed from the Thai capital during the Royal Ploughing Ceremony weekend - one of the busiest festivals of the year when airports are crammed with tourists. It is believed to have provided a prime opportunity for traffickers to operate mules - particularly attractive young Britons who arouse less suspicion. The two arrests follow a huge crackdown on smugglers sending cannabis to the UK by post. A joint operation by both countries has seen a 90 per cent in reduction in the drug being mailed to Britain since last year. It suggests Thai gangs may now be reverting to using drug mules to ship their products instead - and targeting British backpackers. Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022 which sparked a massive rise in the narcotic being posted to Britain. The law change allowed traffickers to hoodwink trippers into believing transporting it was legal. Thai checks of mail being shipped stopped 1.5 tonnes in the first quarter of this year - a 90 percent drop in the illicit cargo - in a drive which frustrated the gangs. Some 800 people including 50 British nationals have been arrested in Thailand for attempted smuggling since July 2024 with over nine tonnes of cannabis seized. Retired Georgian police chief General Jemal Janashia voiced concerns that backpackers were being targeted yesterday. He said: "The fact that two young British women have taken off with large quantities of drugs from the same airport will interest investigators. "They will be concerned about the possibility of a link and that Thai gangs may be attempting to recruit vulnerable British travellers. 'After the crackdown on postal drug deliveries, the Thai cartel are seeking new routes and Georgia does look like an attractive middle transit point. 'It's relatively close, and easy to reach Europe and is visa free to European travellers.' He added: 'I feel sorry for this woman because she was clearly used and manipulated. She's 18, she's a foreigner, pregnant. 'All of this indicates that she was chosen deliberately, chosen carefully, she was studied. 'Whoever chose her, they knew what they were doing.' 6 A female prison near Tbilsi, Georgia where suspected Brit drug mule Bella Culley is being held Credit: .
