A British teenager spoke about “having a death wish” days before she was arrested in Georgia on suspicion of carrying 14 kilogrammes of cannabis. Bella May Culley, who could face a life sentence in a “decaying and overcrowding prison”, appeared in a Tbilisi court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody.
The 18-year-old, from Billingham, County Durham, had been travelling in Asia and was regularly posting pictures and videos on her Facebook. One post from May 1 showed the teenager in what appears to be a water cave, with the caption: “Sometimes I think I have a death wish, me straight in the water just after they told me there’s poisonous snakes, sea urchins and spiders x”. Culley spent time in the Philippines before her family reportedly lost touch with her during her trip to Thailand which commenced around May 3.
It’s understood that her backpacking adventure began in the Philippines shortly after Easter.
Culley’s last post on Facebook was a selfie on May 5.
She had previously been posting frequently about her time abroad, including shots of her on sandy beaches and a release of young turtles.
The young woman was detained at Tbilisi’s airport after drugs were allegedly found in her luggage.
Culley could face 20 years in jail or even a life sentence, according to Georgia’s Interior Ministry.
The British citizen did not answer the judge’s questions regarding drugs allegations as she appeared in court, said the Rustavi TV channel.
But she told the court she chose to remain silent about the charges brought against her, reports said.
Culley’s Georgian lawyer had sought her release on bail.
The reporter told lawyers: “My client is currently exercising the right to remain silent, so we will provide detailed information later, once they decide how to proceed.
“A formal request must be submitted to the relevant authority, and then more detailed information regarding my client can be provided.
“At this stage, [she is] invoking [her] right to silence, and further developments will be shared later once a decision is made.”
Culley’s father and his sister reportedly flew to the Thai capital Bangkok in the extensive search for the teenager after losing contact.
Cleveland Police, who had been aiding with the family’s missing person enquiry, said on Tuesday night: “Update on Billingham woman who was reported missing overseas.
“We have this afternoon had confirmation from the authorities in Georgia that an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested there on suspicion of drugs offences and that she remains in their custody.”
It is believed Culley has ambitions of becoming a nurse and had recently completed a college course.
Georgia only has one female jail, Tbilisi Prison No. 5, situated 45 minutes from the former Soviet capital.
Images reveal the stark interior of the facility, which local reports describe as decaying.
The media has also highlighted the cramped and unsanitary conditions within the facility, according to reports.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) says it cannot secure the release of British nationals from Georgian jails, nor can it ensure preferential treatment based on their nationality.
“It is usual in Georgia for cells/dormitories to be shared,” the FCDO says.
“There is no set maximum number of occupants, rather it depends on the type of facility, size of the room, etc.”
A report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) once condemned the “severely overcrowded” prison conditions following calls alongside Amnesty International and Penal Reform International in 2006 for the Georgian government to cease mistreatment within its prisons.
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (CPT) labelled the conditions at No 5 as “degrading, inhuman” and as such “an affront to a civilised society” that same year.
The Express has contacted the FCDO for comment.
