Bella May Culley, a 19-year-old pregnant British teenager from Teesside, has been released from a Georgian prison after six months in custody on drug-smuggling charges. She was arrested at Tbilisi airport in May and accused of attempting to smuggle 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish into the country.
A Georgian court found her guilty on Monday and sentenced her to five months and 25 days, the time she had already served. Her family paid a fine of 500,000 lari (about £137,000) as part of a plea deal. Culley and her mother, Lyanne Kennedy, cried as the verdict was read.
Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili said they considered a two-year sentence but decided to take into account time served. Culley's lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, confirmed she would receive her passport and be free to leave Georgia. She initially faced up to 15 years or life in prison.
Culley had been reported missing in Thailand before her arrest. She pleaded not guilty, claiming she was tortured in Thailand and forced to carry the drugs. Her lawyer said she showed visible signs of torture upon arrival in Georgia.
