This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yxe6e073po
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Billingham teen Bella Culley faces months in Georgia jail | Billingham teen Bella Culley faces months in Georgia jail |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Bella Culley's family is being supported by the Foreign Office | Bella Culley's family is being supported by the Foreign Office |
| A British teenager could spend up to nine months in a Georgian prison while she is investigated on suspicion of drug offences. | A British teenager could spend up to nine months in a Georgian prison while she is investigated on suspicion of drug offences. |
| Bella Culley, 18, from Billingham on Teesside, appeared at a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday and, at the end of proceedings, told the court she was pregnant. | Bella Culley, 18, from Billingham on Teesside, appeared at a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday and, at the end of proceedings, told the court she was pregnant. |
| The prosecutor asked for 55 days to find evidence before the case is brought to trial and the BBC understands this could be extended by a further seven months. | The prosecutor asked for 55 days to find evidence before the case is brought to trial and the BBC understands this could be extended by a further seven months. |
| Miss Culley's lawyer, Ia Todua, said police wanted to establish where the 12kg (26lbs) of marijuana and 2kg (4.4lbs) of hashish had come from and whether she was "planning to hand it over to someone". | |
| Miss Culley was arrested at Tbilisi, Georgia, and charged with illegally buying, possessing and importing large quantities of narcotics. | |
| Ms Todua, who has been appointed by the state to represent the teenager, said the prosecution estimated they would need two months to gather information. | Ms Todua, who has been appointed by the state to represent the teenager, said the prosecution estimated they would need two months to gather information. |
| "They said that they had to conduct a lot of investigative activities, so that they can collect evidence, establish where it was from [the narcotics] and was she planning to hand it over to someone," she said. | |
| "That's what they said they want to establish, and they also confiscated her phone." | "That's what they said they want to establish, and they also confiscated her phone." |
| The lawyer added that, at the end of the hearing, Miss Culley "told the court that she was pregnant". | |
| Bella Culley has been sent to prison number 5 in Rustavi | |
| The BBC understands other lawyers had been in touch to represent Miss Culley and the British consular service has planned a meeting. | |
| The Foreign Office has confirmed that it is "supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia". | The Foreign Office has confirmed that it is "supporting the family of a British woman who is detained in Georgia". |
| Georgian Police said officers had seized marijuana and the narcotic drug hashish in a travel bag at Tbilisi International Airport. | |
| A spokesperson said the arrest was the result of a joint operation between multiple departments and, if found guilty, Miss Culley could face up to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment. | A spokesperson said the arrest was the result of a joint operation between multiple departments and, if found guilty, Miss Culley could face up to 20 years in jail or life imprisonment. |
| Cleveland Police has confirmed an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested in Georgia "on suspicion of drugs offences" and remains in custody. | Cleveland Police has confirmed an 18-year-old woman from Billingham has been arrested in Georgia "on suspicion of drugs offences" and remains in custody. |
| Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. | Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. |