Former AFL star Ben Cousins to return to court, aims to fight charges
Former AFL star Ben Cousins has spent a second night behind bars pending a bail application after he was found sleeping next to his car allegedly with methamphetamine in his possession.
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Fallen AFL champion Ben Cousins has spent another night in jail pending a bail application and has indicated he will fight nearly all new charges against him, including aggravated stalking in Perth.
The former West Coast Eagles captain was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly being found with about 2.5 grams of methamphetamine in East Victoria Park. Police had been searching for a vehicle that was seen driving erratically in nearby Kensington.
Cousins, 41, was also charged with aggravated stalking and 13 counts of breaching a violence restraining order between April 2 and 15. Those charges relate to his ex-partner Maylea Tinecheff, whom he allegedly tried to contact via phone more than 100 times.
Cousins faced Armadale Magistrates’ Court on Thursday but the matter will return to court on Friday to complete his bail application.
The arrest of the premiership-winning Brownlow medallist comes only weeks after he opened up in a Channel 7 documentary and talked about getting his life back on track.
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His long battle with drug addiction has already seen him serve two stints in prison.
Police responding to a report of erratic driving in suburban Perth about noon on Wednesday found the reported car parked up a short time later and Cousins sleeping next to it.
The one-time Richmond player, 41, allegedly had 2.5g of meth in his possession.
Cousins’ long-time lawyer Michael Tudori said he could not comment in relation to the latest reported incident, adding: “I can’t talk about it. I can’t confirm anything”.
It has been eight months since Cousins was released from prison.
In the 7 News documentary Ben Cousins: Coming Clean that aired late last month, Cousins refused to reveal when he had last used drugs.
“Well ... you know, not today, and that’s got to be enough for me and it should be enough for other people,” Cousins said.
Cousins’ last stint in jail was for making threats and breaching a violence restraining order taken out against him by the mother of his two children.
In the documentary, Cousins told Basil Zempilas that he had “stuffed things up royally” and “it’s time to get things right”.
“In a perfect world I would’ve,” he said. “That’s enough, I reckon. Two out of three (years), if I haven’t woken up by now.”
But he wasn’t willing to say he would never end up back behind bars.
“Well, as soon as you say you’re not going back, you’re going back, aren’t ya?” he said. “But it’s a bit like, ‘oh, I think, I don’t wanna go back’.
#EXCLUSIVE: Former AFL star Ben Cousins is again in police custody – arrested in Perth this afternoon. @JerrieDemasi #9News pic.twitter.com/bBs5aLQjD9
— Nine News Australia (@9NewsAUS) April 22, 2020
“I don’t like to say it because I know how easy I found myself back in there after the first time. This time is going to be no different. It’s going to be a challenge and I’m going to have to take it seriously,” Cousins said. There’s too much I’ve missed out on already.
“There’s days and time that I can’t get back, that my kids don’t get back. It’s been a waste and any more time going forward would be the same.”
MORE BEN COUSINS NEWS
INTERVIEW: FALLEN STAR FINDS JOY IN SON’S FOOTY DREAMS
BEN COUSINS: ‘I’VE STUFFED UP THINGS ROYALLY’
JAIL RELEASE: FREED COUSINS BARELY RECOGNISABLE
Originally published as Former AFL star Ben Cousins to return to court, aims to fight charges