Bella May Culley, an 18-year-old nursing student from Billingham, County Durham, was reported missing earlier this month while travelling in Thailand. Her sudden disappearance sparked a frantic search by family and friends. But in a dramatic twist, she has now reappeared—thousands of miles away—in Georgia, Eastern Europe, where she is being held on serious drug smuggling charges.
Culley appeared in court on Tuesday, 13 May, after being arrested at Tbilisi International Airport for allegedly attempting to smuggle 30 pounds of cannabis. She claimed to be pregnant and chose to remain silent during proceedings. She is currently detained at Tbilisi Prison No. 5, a facility criticised in the past for its poor living conditions.
