Bella Culley changed backpacking plans to join mystery Brits in Thailand before jetting to Georgia ‘with 30lb drug haul’
DRUGS arrest teen Bella Culley changed her backpacking plans last minute to follow a gang of British lads to Thailand, it has emerged.
The nursing student originally jetted to the Philippines to meet an old pal from home when she fell in with the strangers from the north west of the UK.
They persuaded her to change her original itinerary and head to Thailand with them – before she was late caught allegedly smuggling 30lbs of cannabis into Georgia.
Bella’s distraught dad and aunt were still battling to see the 18-year-old in Georgian capital Tbilisi today after she told a court she was pregnant.
The teenager’s lawyer failed to arrive for meetings designed to give the family access to Bella behind bars as part of compassionate visits.
Family in UK confirmed she had a long-term boyfriend but they had not previously known about a pregnancy, although she had been travelling for two months, meaning she may not have known.
The British teenager announced she was pregnant following her arrest for allegedly smuggling £200,000 worth of drugs into Georgia.
Culley sparked a frantic police hunt after vanishing in Thailand – before allegedly turning up with a suitcase full of cannabis 4,000 miles away in the former Soviet state.
Her father Neil Culley, 49, arrived in Georgian capital Tbilisi demanding answers after suffering “every parents nightmare.”
But the distraught dad was yesterday facing a wall of red tape as he battled to get a face-to-face meeting at Tbilisi’s grim No 5 Women’s Penitentiary.
Mr Culley – who jetted in after launching a search for his daughter in Thailand – is meeting British consular officials Tbilisi today.
But he has been unable to enter the jail on the outskirts of the capital because his local lawyer has yet to obtain essential paperwork.
Bella – who has posted snaps of herself smoking cannabis joints in Thailand and joked about her “Bonnie and Clyde” lifestyle has so far not explained why she allegedly arrived with more than 30lb of the drug.
But she did tearfully tell a court she was pregnant before being remanded in custody in the tough Soviet era jail until July 1.
Legal sources in Tblisi say Mr Culley – originally from County Durham but now living in Vietnam – is desperate to see his daughter.
His sister – Bella’s aunt Kellie Culley – has also arrived to support him.
But Georgian rules forbid relatives from entering jails to see remand prisoners unless they have a lawyer present with signed documents.
And Bella’s lawyer – who usually handles local legally aided cases – was today sway to be tied up with other clients.
Legal sources told The Sun he would be unable to see Bella today as prison bosses were unavailable to sign necessary paperwork to authorise a visit.
The bureaucratic hold up prolongs the anxiety for Mr Culley and his family, who are still awaiting answers.
Her grandfather William Culley 80, said: “Last night they were told they could see her in the morning.
“They said they’d ring me straight after they had seen her but I haven’t had a call. They must still be waiting.
“It’s just really important that they get to see her as soon as possible. The poor bairn must be at her wits’ end. Especially if we can’t see her.
“Everything should be done to make that happen.”
Mr Culley said that Bella had travelled to the Philippines with plans to meet a friend who had moved to the country from the North East.
Although Bella’s father Niel lives in Vietnam, he retains a property in Billingham.
Mr Culley said he had been instructed by his son to market the house to raise money towards legal help for his daughter, who had recently started doing bank shifts as a nurse.
He said he was “surprised” when lawyers for Bella revealed she is pregnant. “I only found out when my daughter told me last night.”
A family friend of Bella claimed the teenager had been “completely exploited” after falling in with British drug dealers while backpacking.
“She’s just a normal 18-year-old. She’s not some hardened criminal,” the friend said.
“I hope somebody sees some sense that she’s not a criminal. She’s a victim. Imagine your own daughter in that position – it’s terrifying.”