Bella Culley, a 19-year-old British woman from Billingham, Teesside, has secured a reduced sentence of two years through a plea bargain after being charged with drug smuggling in Georgia. Culley, who is 35 weeks pregnant, had faced the possibility of up to 20 years or life imprisonment if convicted. Her family paid £137,000 (500,000 Georgian Lari) as part of the agreement, though they were unable to secure her immediate release. Culley is now likely to give birth while incarcerated at Prison Number 5 in Tbilisi. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Monday. The case stems from her arrest at Tbilisi International Airport in May, where authorities discovered 12kg of marijuana and 2kg of hashish in her luggage. Culley has previously claimed she was coerced into transporting the drugs under torture. Plea bargains are a common resolution for drug-related crimes in Georgia, accounting for over 90% of such cases. Culley’s mother, Lyanne Kennedy, expressed optimism outside the court, stating her daughter appeared strong despite her advanced pregnancy. Her lawyer, Malkhaz Salakaia, confirmed that negotiations are nearing completion, with a technical issue delaying the finalization of the plea deal. Salakaia also indicated plans to appeal for a presidential pardon once the agreement is finalized. Culley had initially gone missing in Thailand before her arrest in Georgia. She maintains her innocence, asserting she was forced into the situation and is a university student with no history of drug use.