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she's home: british 'drugs mule' bella culley lands in uk after release from georgian prison

Nov 7, 2025 UK News views: 101

Bella Culley flew into the UK just hours after her surprise release (Picture: SelwynPics)

Pregnant teenager Bella Culley,who spent five months and 24 days in a notorious Georgian prison,has landed back home in the UK.

The teen,19,from Teesside,was walking hand-in-hand with her mum after she was freed from Georgia’s Rustavi Prison Number Five despite being convicted of drug trafficking.

Now eight months pregnant and with a baby bump showing,Bella came through the normal arrival channels before police quickly swept her up to take her through a private gate to avoid the glare of the nation’s press.

Surrounded by family and friends,Bella was wrapped in a scarf as she walked through arrivals in flip-flops.

Bella and her mum Lyanne Kennedy,who has remained by her side through the ordeal,were seen checking in at Tbilisi airport earlier today.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Bella Culley looks at the cameras as she arrives back in the UK at Luton airport (Picture: Jamie Wiseman for The Daily Mail)Bella Culley landed at Luton airport with her mum who came to support in Georgia through the trial (Picture: Jamie Wiseman for the Daily Mail)The teen was seen wheeling a suitcase,which appeared similar to the one she allegedly used to smuggle £200,000 worth of hashish and cannabis from Thailand.After Bella’s release,Lyanne told The Sun: ‘Bella is still very overwhelmed.‘She hasn’t slept and getting home to her brother,my son,is our priority today.’Bella,from Billingham,County Durham,has been able to return home before the birth of her baby (Picture: Facebook)The 19-year-old was detained at Tbilisi International Airport after she was found to be carrying 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish in her luggage.Drug trafficking in the country could lead to life imprisonment or 15 years behind bars.She claimed she agreed to smuggle the drugs from Thailand after being tortured with a hot iron and threatened with videos of beheadings shown by a gang.Her family had raised £137,000 to get her sentence reduced to two years but it was always assumed she would have to give birth in jail.But on Monday,Malkhaz Salakaia her lawyer announced that prosecutors,taking into account her age and late-stage pregnancy,decided to free her.Got a story?

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