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Metro
20-05-2025
- Metro
Everything we know about British teen Bella May Culley
The mystery surrounding the case of Bella May Culley – the British teenager arrested in Georgia after vanishing 4,000 miles away in Thailand – seems to deepen by the day. The 18-year-old was arrested in Tbilisi charged with illegally buying, possessing and importing a large quantity of drugs. It comes after police seized '34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana … as well as 20 packages of hashish' at the Georgian capital's airport. During a pre-trial hearing in the city this week, Bella told the court she is pregnant. Her 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. Culley now faces a life sentence in Georgia's fearsome Prison No. 5. Here is everything we know about her case so far. The teenage is from Billingham in County Durham. An aspiring nurse, she recently completed an access course at Middlesbrough College. Last month, she set out with a pal on a dream holiday to the Philippines before embarking on a solo trip to Thailand on May 3 to meet friends she had made on a previous break. 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. She lost contact with her parents a week later, on May 10, with her mum Lynne Kennedy telling Teesside Live: 'The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later. 'That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now. 'I'm just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information. I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice.' Lynne later 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.' She added: '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.' Bella resurfaced 4,000 miles away at Georgia's Tbilisi International Airport, where she was being held following the discovery of 30lbs of cannabis. It remains unclear why she suddenly veered so far from her holiday destination. Her granddad William Culley suggested she may have been taken advantage of by someone else. Speaking to the Mirror, he 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.' The prosecutor in Bella's case has requested 55 days to gather evidence ahead of a trial. Her own lawyer, Ia Todua, said: 'They said that they had to conduct a lot of investigative activities, so that they can collect evidence, establish where it was from [the narcotics] and was she planning to hand it over to someone. 'That's what they said they want to establish, and they also confiscated her phone.' 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. More Trending A report by Georgia's ombudsman states: 'When prisoners are received at the No.5 Facility, they are inspected naked and are requested to squat, which the inmates consider degrading treatment. 'According to inmates, this procedure is especially humiliating and intensive during an inmate's menstrual cycle.' A separate report by Human Rights Watch found Georgia's prisons were 'severely overcrowded', threatening the safety of inmates. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment described the conditions at a nearby facility as 'degrading', 'inhuman' and 'an affront to a civilised society'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Third man arrested over 'arson attacks' on properties linked to Keir Starmer MORE: Suspect accused of bombing US fertility clinic 'had nihilistic ideations' MORE: Uninsured learner driver ran off after killing woman in head-on crash
Metro
17-05-2025
- Metro
Everything we know about British teen Bella May Culley who faces jail in Georgia
The mystery surrounding the case of Bella May Culley – the British teenager arrested in Georgia after vanishing 4,000 miles away in Thailand – seems to deepen by the day. The 18-year-old was arrested in Tbilisi charged with illegally buying, possessing and importing a large quantity of drugs. It comes after police seized '34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana … as well as 20 packages of hashish' at the Georgian capital's airport. During a pre-trial hearing in the city this week, Bella told the court she is pregnant. Her 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. Culley now faces a life sentence in Georgia's fearsome Prison No. 5. Here is everything we know about her case so far. The teenage is from Billingham in County Durham. An aspiring nurse, she recently completed an access course at Middlesbrough College. Last month, she set out with a pal on a dream holiday to the Philippines before embarking on a solo trip to Thailand on May 3 to meet friends she had made on a previous break. 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. She lost contact with her parents a week later, on May 10, with her mum Lynne Kennedy telling Teesside Live: 'The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later. 'That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now. 'I'm just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information. I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice.' Lynne later 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.' She added: '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.' Bella resurfaced 4,000 miles away at Georgia's Tbilisi International Airport, where she was being held following the discovery of 30lbs of cannabis. It remains unclear why she suddenly veered so far from her holiday destination. Her granddad William Culley suggested she may have been taken advantage of by someone else. Speaking to the Mirror, he 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.' The prosecutor in Bella's case has requested 55 days to gather evidence ahead of a trial. Her own lawyer, Ia Todua, said: 'They said that they had to conduct a lot of investigative activities, so that they can collect evidence, establish where it was from [the narcotics] and was she planning to hand it over to someone. 'That's what they said they want to establish, and they also confiscated her phone.' 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. More Trending A report by Georgia's ombudsman states: 'When prisoners are received at the No.5 Facility, they are inspected naked and are requested to squat, which the inmates consider degrading treatment. 'According to inmates, this procedure is especially humiliating and intensive during an inmate's menstrual cycle.' A separate report by Human Rights Watch found Georgia's prisons were 'severely overcrowded', threatening the safety of inmates. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment described the conditions at a nearby facility as 'degrading', 'inhuman' and 'an affront to a civilised society'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Flatmate of Madeleine McCann suspect reveals his childhood inside children's home MORE: Five people arrested after being stabbed at late-night party in London MORE: British dad killed with vodka bottle in 'blind attack' on stag do in Prague
Dublin Live
14-05-2025
- Dublin Live
Family of missing teen in desperate plea after she vanished in Thailand
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The heartbroken family of a teenager are pleading for assistance after she disappeared in Thailand. Bella May Culley, who is from Billingham near Middlesbrough in the UK, was last seen in the Pattaya region and has not been in touch with her family since Saturday. Family members have travelled to the country to look for Bella, and her mum says they are all anxiously awaiting news. The 18-year-old initially flew out to the Philippines just after Easter and had been exploring the islands with a friend. It's believed she travelled to Thailand around 3rd May. She kept in regular contact with her mum, Lyanne Kennedy, and was scheduled to chat with her on Saturday, but the family hasn't heard anything since then and it appears her phone is switched off, reports Teesside Live. Bella's father, Neil Culley, along with his sister Kerrie Culley, has now flown out to Thailand in search of answers. Lyanne said: "She flew out to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and she was there for three weeks. She was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3." "The last message she sent was to me and that was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later. That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now. I'm just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information. I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice." The family, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has announced that Bella's disappearance has now attracted the attention of Thai authorities who are treating it as "high priority". In an urgent call for leads posted on Facebook, they also disclosed contacting Cleveland Police with a plea to the public: if anyone has been in touch with Bella or has any relevant information, they are encouraged to immediately contact the law enforcement agency. Their Facebook appeal stressed the critical need for details regarding Bella's most recent communications, stating: "Information on Bella May is now urgently needed on the last known communication with Bella May. The police are now involved over here and in Thailand. Anything could help even if you think it isn't relevant, it could be." Cleveland Police have confirmed their involvement, expressing their concern and ongoing efforts through a spokesperson: "We have received a report of a missing person who may be in Thailand. Enquiries are ongoing locally and with other agencies to establish the circumstances. We would appeal for anyone with information on the whereabouts of 18-year-old Bella Culley to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number quoting ref 084859." Furthermore, an FCDO representative has spoken out about the incident: "We are supporting the family of a British woman who is reported missing in Thailand." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Teen's dream holiday turns nightmare from 'death wish' to life in horror prison
Bella May Culley's surfacing in Georgia, where authorities have accused her of hauling cannabis, is a bizarre story full of twists and turns including an ominous Facebook post and a pregnancy claim Georgia: British teen arrested on drug trafficking charges Bella May Culley's shock holiday disappearance and unexpected resurfacing in a nation 4,000 miles away have caused ripples of shock and confusion, with her family and members of the public anxiously watching as she faces lifetime incarceration in an infamous prison. The 18-year-old aspiring nurse from Billingham, County Durham, was reported missing earlier this month when she lost contact with her family while on holiday in Thailand, and became the subject of a massive international search. When she resurfaced, she was 3,600 miles away in Tblisi, Georgia, having been accused of attempting to smuggle 30 pounds - 14kg - of Cannabis into the former Soviet nation. Pictures have captured the dramatic shift from her sun-drenched dream holiday to the steps of a Georgian courthouse being escorted in handcuffs. She could spend life behind bars at the notorious Tblisi No 5 prison should she be convicted for her alleged crimes, less than a month after she jetted off for an island-hopping holiday around southeast Asia. Here's everything we know about the mysterious case so far. The southeast Asia trip Before she appeared in Georgia, Ms Culley was enjoying a holiday touring southeast Asia, with her first pictures posted on social media from the Philippines on April 28. She posted dozens of photos from the nation showing her reclining on the beach and tucking into local food while looking out onto glittering blue waters. She hopped across islands in the nation over several days, ending up in El Nido, where she watched turtle hatchlings make their first trip into the sea, and went scuba diving in local lagoons. By May 2, nine days before she was revealed to be in the care of Georgian authorities, she was still enjoying her time abroad. She said in a social media post on the day: "I can't promise this will be the last holiday photo." Her last post on Facebook before activity ceased was a glamorous selfie showing Ms Culley dressed in a floral yellow dress inside accommodation at an undisclosed location. The 'death wish' confession Among the last posts on her profile showing a collection of photos and videos from El Nido on May 1, Bella confessed she thought she may have a "death wish" while braving waters potentially infested with dangerous animals. She wrote: "Sometimes I think I have a death wish, me straight in the water just after they told me there's poisonous snakes, sea urchins and spiders." She jetted off to Thailand two days later, with her mum Lyanne Kennedy saying she "was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3". She told Teesside Live: "The last message she sent was to me and that was on on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later. "That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now." Her family believed at the time that she was in the Pattya area of Thailand, near Bangkok, and had her phone turned off when she disappeared. Detainment in Georgia Ms Culley was allegedly caught carrying 14 kilograms of cannabis into Georgia when she was flagged during a routine scanner check at Tblisi International Airport. The inspection allegedly revealed "34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana were found in the passenger's bag, as well as 20 packages of hashish" according to local media. Reports further claim she was charged with illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics, illegally purchasing and storing the narcotic drug marijuana, and illegally importing it into Georgia. The Georgian Interior Ministry said the alleged crime could result in "up to 20 years - or life imprisonment". Ms Culley has been remanded in custody as she awaits trial, with a judge overseeing the case electing to refuse bail and hold her after deciding she posed a flight risk. Cleveland Police have confirmed an "18-year-old woman from Billingham" was arrested "on suspicion of drugs offences and that she remains in their custody". A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) told the Mirror: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia and are in contact with the local authorities.' Pictures and a video taken in Georgia show the moment the teen is escorted, handcuffed, up the steps of the Central Criminal Police Department by a uniformed police officer. Pregnancy twist It's today been reported that Bella told the Tbilisi court she is pregnant. Major Georgian TV outlet Rustavi 2 reports the Brit (whose age has been recorded as 19 rather than 18) 'chose to exercise her right to remain silent regarding the charges'. The channel gave no further details about her reported pregnancy. Hellhole prison where Bella could spend next 20 years If Ms Culley is convicted of her alleged crimes and receives a maximum sentence, she could end up spending up to 20 years in Georgia's sole female prison, Tblisi prison No 5. The institution, which houses several hundred women both convicted and awaiting conviction, comes with a grim reputation. Prisoners housed in cells at No.5 have complained about "degrading" treatment, with a 2015 report from a monitoring group with the Georgian Public Ombudsman finding new intake prisoners are "inspected naked and are requested to squat", something inmates "consider degrading treatment". Prisoners also complained of "hygiene and sanitation problems", with members of the monitoring group finding standards were "violated significantly" in the same report, with the group finding showers at the facility "separated by rusting metal walls and without ventilation" and that some had windows without any glass panes. A separate report from Human Rights Watch (HRW) submitted in 2006 deemed the facility "severely overcrowded". Amnesty International and Penal Reform International at the time urged the Georgian government to end ill-treatment in their prisons. In a separate report from the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CPT), authors said conditions were "degrading" and "inhuman", and went as far as to say they were "an affront to a civilised society" in its own report submitted the same year.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Teen sent final message before vanishing on dream holiday and turning up in jail
Bella May Culley, 18, faces decades in a prison in Georgia as her shocked family reacts to her arrest, some 4,000 miles away from where they thought she was on holiday The mother of a British teenager facing life behind bars in a hellhole prison in Georgia for drug smuggling has revealed the final message she sent before she vanished. Bella May Culley, 18, flew out to the Philippines over Easter with a friend before they travelled to Thailand, when she suddenly disappeared. A huge international search was launched and her relatives flew out to the country to look for her when they got the news she had been found - around 4,000 miles away in Georgia 's only female prison, Tbilisi Prison No.5, on suspicion of smuggling 30 pounds of cannabis. The teenager now faces decades behind bars in the ex-Soviet nation if she is found guilty. Bella's mother Lyanne told Teesside Live of the last message she heard from her daughter before she vanished: "She flew out to the Philippines after Easter with a friend and she was there for three weeks. She was posting loads of pictures and then she went to Thailand on about May 3. "The last message she sent was to me was on Saturday at 5.30pm saying she was going to Facetime me later. That was the last message anyone has received from what we can figure out up to now. "I'm just waiting on her dad who is now in Bangkok to get back with any more information. I just want her home and safe or to hear her gorgeous little voice." Footage later emerged of Culley in handcuffs as she was being led into a police station in Tbilisi. Local media in the country reported she was found to have "34 hermetically sealed packages containing marijuana... as well as 20 packages of hashish" in her possession at the airport. On its website, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) states it cannot get Brits out of jail in Georgia or help anyone get special treatment because they are British. Its website has a page specifically about arrests in the nation, in which it states "prison conditions vary". It added: 'It is usual in Georgia for cells/dormitories to be shared. There is no set maximum number of occupants, rather it depends on the type of facility, size of the room, etc." Cleveland Police said in its latest update on the teenager's arrest: 'We have this afternoon had confirmation from the authorities in Georgia an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested there on suspicion of drugs offences and she remains in their custody.'
