British woman Bella Culley, who was imprisoned in Georgia for drug smuggling, shared on TikTok that she has given birth to her baby after her release. Culley, 19, joyfully announced the arrival of her “5lbs baba” on November 24, following her release on November 3 and reunion with her family. In a heartwarming TikTok video, Culley is seen cradling her newborn with a beaming smile, expressing that life is about being in the right place. The video ended with a cryptic message about not settling for less in life.
Earlier in the year, Culley, from Teesside, was convicted of attempting to smuggle 12 kilograms of marijuana and two kilograms of hashish from Thailand into Georgia. Initially facing a potential two-year sentence, prosecutors reconsidered due to time already served, leading to her release after spending five months and 25 days behind bars.
Culley’s parents, Lyanne, 44, and Niel, 49, raised significant funds to settle court costs, enabling her return to the UK under a plea deal with prosecutors. She was transferred to a mother and baby prison unit following a challenging start to her prison term. Upon Culley’s release, her mother expressed immense happiness and suggested naming the newborn after their lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, who highlighted signs of physical abuse on Culley upon her return.
Neighbors in Billingham, Co Durham, where Culley was pursuing a nursing career before her trip to Thailand, attested to her innocence, stating she had no history of drug involvement. Culley’s disappearance in Thailand led to a criminal investigation into coercion allegations by Georgian authorities, with reports indicating she became pregnant during her travels in Asia.
After regaining her freedom, Culley expressed her unexpected joy to the media, emphasizing her surprise at being released.