Bella May Culley (often reported as Bella Culley) is a British teenager from Billingham, County Durham, who was arrested in May 2025 at Tbilisi airport in Georgia on charges of attempting to smuggle large quantities of cannabis and hashish. She later said she had been coerced and claimed mistreatment in Thailand before arriving in Georgia.
In late October 2025, her family paid a large sum in a bid to reduce her sentence as a plea deal was worked out; reports say the deal could lead to a two-year term rather than decades in prison.
Who is Bella Culley?
Bella May Culley is a British teenager (reported aged 19 in October 2025) from Billingham, Teesside. She has featured in media coverage since her arrest in May 2025 at Tbilisi airport in Georgia on allegations of carrying roughly 12 kg of marijuana and 2 kg of hashish.
She has said she was manipulated and has denied knowingly smuggling the drugs, claiming she was coerced and mistreated before her arrest. The UK Foreign Office has been reported as offering support to her family.
Where is Bella Culley from?
Bella is from Billingham, County Durham, in the north-east of England. Reports note her family ties in that area and say she has relatives who have spoken to the media about the case. Press outlets have described her family as engaged with the legal process and traveling to Georgia to attend court hearings.
Where is Bella Culley being held?
Following her May arrest, Georgian authorities held Bella in a women’s prison in Rustavi, near Tbilisi. She remained in custody through several court hearings while investigations and trial preparations continued. Reports say she received medical attention in detention and that hearings in Tbilisi courts set timelines for trial or plea negotiations.
Bella Culley Age
News reporting around October 2025 lists Bella Culley as 19 years old. Earlier coverage in 2025 sometimes referred to her as 18; the later, consistent reports put her at 19 during the Georgian proceedings and plea discussions.
Bella Culley Drug Case Update
As of late October 2025, Bella’s family reportedly paid 500,000 Georgian lari (about $186,000–$187,000 / £138,000) as part of a deal intended to dramatically reduce her sentence. Her lawyer said a plea bargain could result in a two-year prison term rather than the much longer penalties she originally faced under Georgian law. A court hearing and formalization of the agreement were reported as pending.
Bella Culley’s baby father
Media reports note that Bella is pregnant (reports say she is expecting a baby boy), but they do not publish verified details about the father. Coverage has focused on her legal situation, medical care while detained, and the family’s efforts rather than personal paternity details, which have not been confirmed publicly in reputable outlets.
Bella Culley’s fine amount
Reports refer to large sums paid by the family in relation to plea negotiations and compensation. News outlets cite amounts around 500,000 Georgian lari (approximately $186,000–$187,000, reported as about £138,000) that the family paid or agreed to pay in an effort to reduce the sentence. Different outlets report slightly different currency conversions; the Georgian-reported figure is 500,000 lari.
Bella Culley’s social media
Before the arrest, Bella had an active social media presence typical of young people (photos, short videos, and travel posts). After her detention, journalists and some tabloids examined archived posts while the family and legal team focused on court proceedings. News reporting has used public images from earlier social accounts but has avoided republishing intrusive personal content.
Bella Culley’s family
Reporting describes a distraught family based in Billingham who traveled to Georgia and engaged legal representation for Bella. Her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, appeared at court hearings and spoke to reporters.
Coverage also notes the family’s campaign to raise funds and seek consular support from the UK Foreign Office. The family has said they believe Bella was targeted and manipulated by others.
Bella Culley GoFundMe
Tabloid articles and social posts in mid-2025 discussed crowdfunding appeals linked to legal costs, but reputable outlets emphasize that the family paid the reported Georgian sum through private means and lawyers.
There were claims in some social posts about scam or fraudulent fundraisers targeting the family’s plight; mainstream coverage urges caution about unverified GoFundMe pages. Journalists recommend relying on confirmed family statements for fundraising links.
