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Pregnant Briton Bella Culley Back in UK After Georgian Court Frees Her on Time Served

Prosecutors changed the plea on humanitarian grounds, enabling her release.

Overview

  • The 19-year-old arrived at Luton Airport on Tuesday evening and returned to her home in Billingham after midnight on Wednesday.
  • A Tbilisi court on Monday entered a conviction then set a sentence of five months and 25 days, equal to her time in custody.
  • Prosecutor Vakhtang Tsalughelashvili said a modified plea reflected her cooperation, age and condition.
  • Her family paid more than £137,000 as part of negotiations that reduced formal punishment, according to her legal team.
  • Heavily pregnant at about 35 weeks, she was transferred to a mother-and-baby unit before release and maintains she was coerced by a gang.