In a dramatic turn of events, 19- time-old Bella Culley from Billingham, Teesside, is set to walk free from a Georgian captivity, months after being charged with serious medicine trafficking offenses.
Her counsel verified the release after an unforeseen shift in the execution’s station, calling it a “phenomenon moment” for the youthful Briton, who’s also pregnant.
Culley had been gaping down the possibility of a 20- time jail sentence after authorities at Tbilisi International Airport claimed they set up 12 kilograms of marijuana and 2 kilograms of hashish in her luggage on 10 May.
The arrest made transnational headlines, painting a grim picture of a British teenager trapped in a foreign legal agony.
But relief eventually came during a tense court session in Tbilisi, where prosecutors suddenly altered the terms of her plea bargain. The courtroom, substantiations say, erupted in emotion.
As soon as she heard the decision, Culley reportedly embraced her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, tightly. “She was overwhelmed. You could see the weight lift off her shoulders in that moment,” said a source close to the legal team.
Mr Salakaia later confirmed to reporters that Bella Culley will soon be freed, ending months of anxiety for her and her family back home in Teesside.
The British Embassy in Georgia is said to have been “closely monitoring” the case throughout, ensuring that her rights were upheld during the legal process.
Locals in Billingham expressed a mix of relief and disbelief. “It’s been heartbreaking to follow. We just want her home safe,” said one family friend.
Though the full details of the revised plea deal remain undisclosed, legal experts suggest it may involve reduced charges or a suspended judgment, allowing Culley to return to the UK in the coming days.
The teenager’s fire has sparked renewed debate about youthful Britons caught up in overseas medicine offenses and the harsh penalties they can face abroad.
For now, Bella Culley’s story looks set for a new chapter, one that offers stopgap, redemption, and maybe an alternate chance at life.
