Ben Cousins’ ex-partner says she feels like the one on trial

Ben Cousin’s ex-partner has denied she demanded money from the fallen AFL champion in exchange for access to his children.

The ex-partner of fallen AFL champion Ben Cousins says she has no animosity towards him despite living in fear at times, and has claimed during her heated testimony that she feels like the one on trial.

Cousins, who has been behind bars in WA’s Hakea Prison since his bail bid was rejected in April, is on trial in Armadale Magistrates Court charged with aggravated stalking and multiple counts of breaching a violence restraining order between April 2 and 15.

The former West Coast Eagles captain was in a relationship with Maylea Tinecheff from 2008 to 2013 and they share two children, aged seven and nine.

During fiery cross-examination on Thursday, Ms Tinecheff was grilled by Melbourne-based QC Julie Condon, with the magistrate repeatedly interjecting to keep the testimony on track.

“I’m not on trial here,” Ms Tinecheff said.

“You’re making me feel like I am.”

Ben Cousins was a champion footballer before his drug addiction took over.

An artist's impression of Ben Cousins at the Armadale Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied via NCA NewsWire

The court heard the premiership player was paid about $100,000 for his Channel 7 television documentary interview, which aired in late March.

But Ms Tinecheff denied telling Cousins’ friend, Narelle Holloway: “Unless Ben starts paying me money, he’s not going to see his children.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” she testified.

“That’s not the issue. I haven’t had any money from Ben for a long, long time and I’ve always allowed him to see the children unless he’s a mess.”

Ms Holloway later testified Ms Tinecheff told her that she was aware Cousins had been paid for the documentary and was “upset about the fact that he wasn’t paying her any of that money.”

Maylea Tinecheff says she is not a vindictive person. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sharon Smith

Still from the documentary Ben Cousins: Coming Clean. Picture: Channel 7

The court heard the former couple had previously arranged a parenting plan, which allowed the Brownlow medallist to contact Ms Tinecheff to organise access to their children.

But Ms Tinecheff said the parenting plan was void by December last year, adding Cousins was not “well enough to be around the children”.

“I honestly had everyone’s best interests at heart,” she said.

“I’m not a vindictive person. You’re trying to portray that I am.”

Asked about an incident when she allegedly ignored a prearranged phone call from Cousins, she said: “I don’t have any animosity or hate towards him like you’re trying to portray.”

While Ms Tinecheff agreed a court must decide if Cousins could see his children, she admitted she “called the shots” and let him breach the VRO sometimes.

Maylea Tinecheff says she has no animosity towards Ben Cousins. Picture: Channel 7’s Sunday Night.

Ms Condon also brought up Ms Tinecheff’s own drug past, including an incident in August 2018 when she was caught drug-driving with her children in the car and subsequently fined.

“I had used drugs recreationally,” she admitted.

But in Cousins’ case, she said his drug use had “spiralled out of control” and their children were not safe.

Asked if she believed Cousins had “no right” to see his children because he was “drug-affected”, she replied: “Not drug-affected, out of control”.

“He was abusive to the children. The children were very frightened and didn’t want to see their father,” she said.

Ms Tinecheff said as their mother she had the right to make decisions to protect them.

Ben Cousins' mother Stephanie Cousins was in court on Thursday to support her son. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sharon Smith

She also revealed she was “scared” when she realised Cousins knew where they lived after they had moved house in secret.

But she admitted he was not threatening or abusive when he showed up at the house around Easter.

Ms Tinecheff said child protection authorities told her she “had to breach” Cousins or the children would be removed from her care.

The trial concluded on Thursday afternoon, with the magistrate’s verdict due next week.

Outside court, Ms Tinecheff was asked if she wanted Cousins to go to prison.

She replied: “I’d like Ben to get some help.”

Ben Cousins with Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui. Picture: Channel 7

Cousins played 238 games for West Coast before he was axed in 2007 and banned by the AFL for 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute.

He finished his AFL career at Richmond, playing a further 32 games, before retiring at the end of the 2010 season.

Cousins has previously served prison time for stalking Ms Tinecheff.