Pregnant teenager Bella Culley, facing drug smuggling charges in Georgia, reportedly resorted to toasting bread over a candle and sharing communal showers in her prison cell, as disclosed by her mother.
The 19-year-old, expected to deliver her baby in December, is set to receive her sentence next week after being apprehended for drug smuggling in Georgia earlier this year. Culley, a student nurse from Billingham, Teesside, disappeared in Thailand in May before reappearing in Georgia, where authorities discovered 11kg of cannabis and over 400g of hashish in her belongings.
Culley’s mother, Lyanne Kennedy, mentioned that her daughter has been moved to a dedicated “mother and baby” unit within the prison. Previously confined in a cell at Georgia’s Rustavi Prison Number Five, Culley endured harsh conditions, including limited outdoor time, communal showers twice a week, and basic amenities.
Kennedy highlighted the improved conditions in the new unit, where Culley now has more outdoor time, access to a communal kitchen, in-room showers, and proper sanitation facilities. The prisoners collaborate in cooking meals, with Culley preparing dishes like eggy bread, cheese toasties, and salt and pepper chicken.
The case of Bella Culley has drawn attention to Georgia’s stringent drug laws and penalties for drug trafficking. She has reached a plea agreement with Georgian prosecutors and faces a two-year jail term.
During a court session in Tbilisi, it was revealed that Culley’s parents managed to pay a substantial sum of money to the court, which may influence the length of her sentence. Although the raised funds are significant, they might not secure Culley’s immediate release but could significantly reduce her potential sentence.
Culley alleged that she was coerced into drug trafficking under threats and intimidation by criminals who subjected her to torture. She expressed that her intention was solely to travel and not engage in illegal activities.
Her lawyer confirmed that Culley admitted to smuggling drugs into Georgia after traveling from Thailand via the United Arab Emirates.