Ben Cousins says he just wants his children to visit him in jail

JAILED fallen AFL star Ben Cousins is desperate for his two young children to visit him behind bars, where he will remain for 12 months.

Former West Coast Eagles AFL player Ben Cousins leaves the Fremantle Magistrates’ Court. Picture: AAP

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JAILED fallen AFL star Ben Cousins is desperate for his two young children to visit him behind bars.

The drug-addicted Brownlow medallist was coping inside jail but struggling without access to his children, West Coast premiership teammate Andrew Embley has revealed.

Cousins has two children, aged 3 and 5, with former partner Maylea Tinecheff, who took out a restraining order against the AFL champion after he would not leave her alone.

Embley said he spoke to Cousins after he was remanded in custody.

“He’s keen to be there for his kids and is desperate to see his children. He understands the role of a father and he wants to be a role model,” Embley said.

Cousins was jailed for 12 months last Monday for his reign of terror, including sending Tinecheff more than 2000 text messages and phone calls in January and February.

While in November last year, he contacted her 542 times, including 103 in one day.

Ben Cousins arrives at court. Picture: Steve Ferrier

He had also made numerous approaches to her on the street, including at church and at the children’s school.

Magistrate Richard Huston described his behaviour as “persistent, sustained and intended” as the court was told how she was in fear for her safety as he was unpredictable while high on drugs.

But those close to Cousins and Tinecheff have questioned how terrified she really was after the pair recently went to a concert together — even though that was also in breach of the VRO.

“He was a bit confused as to where they sat in the relationship,” a mutual friend of the pair said.

“She would pick and choose when she would want him in her life – there is more to it than meets the eye.

Tinecheff, who in 2015 pleaded guilty and was fined for a drug charge, this week said: “I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

Ben Cousins and his girlfriend Maylea Tinecheff. Picture: Antony Young

Despite several attempts to get clean, Cousins again relapsed and in his latest drug-fuelled days was consuming 2g of methamphetamine a day.

Embley, who was part of the 2006 West Coast Premiership team with Cousins, saw his good mate recently in jail and said Cousins had grown a “good beard”, put on some weight and was looking healthy.

“He’s a champion individual and a great friend — he’s got so much to offer and to give,” he said.

“We hope it’s (jail) the experience he needs to turn his life around.

“From a mate’s point of view, you can be there for him and to remain strong so he can make the best decisions for him to go forward.”

Embley said he struggled to work out how his mate got such a low point in his life.

“He has made some blues and he is first to admit that,” he said.

“To see him where he was and where he is now you can only ask ‘how did it come to this?’ He’s thinking the same.

Andrew Embley, who was part of the 2006 West Coast Premiership team with Cousins, has described him as a ‘champion individual’.

“We just want him to get right and get out so he can learn from his mistakes.”

Cousins, who was charged with aggravated stalking, breaching a violence restraining order and drug possession, knew his chances of being spared jail were slim and was “nervous” about prison, according to Embley.

Cousins’ lawyer pleaded with the magistrate to suspend a jail term and impose an intensive supervision order so his client could have residential rehabilitation.

Ben Cousins and Daniel Kerr after the West Coast Eagles won the 2006 AFL Grand Final.

But Cousins’ apparent cry for help came unstuck in court when prosecutors said the prison phone taped Cousins telling his dad he could “stop whenever I want” but “I’m not going to stop”.

In a separate conversation, he told a mate he was willing to do a month in rehabilitation but not “some long f---ing thing”.

Cousins will be eligible for parole in August with time already spent in custody.

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@AleksDevic