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Cousins finished his career at Richmond. Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty Images
BEN Cousins’ fall from grace was complete yesterday, as he was refused bail by a magistrate and locked up with some of Western Australia’s hardest criminals.
The one-time AFL superstar, West Coast captain and Brownlow medallist will spend the next 14 days behind bars, after police once again arrested the 38-year-old on Thursday night and found him in possession of eight grams of ice.
The arrest came after allegations of seven separate breaches of a violence restraining order taken out against him by former partner and mother of his two children Maylea ¬Tinecheff, and a separate charge of aggravated stalking.
Former West Coast Eagles player Ben Cousins is facing fresh charges. AAP Image/Richard WainwrightSource:AAP
Cousins outside court in December. AAP Image/Richard WainwrightSource:AAP
That charge alone, at its most serious, carries a possible jail term of eight years.
After so many chances, and court appearances, and warnings, Magistrate Nick Lemmon told Cousins yesterday he simply couldn’t be sure that if he was freed, he wouldn’t offend again. So he refused bail.
Cousins sat for several moments in his chair looking a broken man before being led away close to tears.
It is understood he spent last night in WA’s maximum security Hakea prison.
Police allege that Cousins’ latest legal lapse began on January 31, the day of his daughter’s first day of school, when he attended and thus came within 50m of Ms Tinecheff, in breach of the VRO.
Cousins leaving court last November. Picture: Ian Munro/The West AustralianSource:Supplied
Cousins after another court appearance last year. Picture: Bohdan WarchomijSource:Supplied
Cousins after winning his Brownlow in 2005.Source:Supplied
A young Ben Cousins.Source:Herald Sun
Cousins after the Eagles 2006 premiership win.Source:Herald Sun
Cousins finished his career at Richmond. Photo: Scott Barbour/Getty ImagesSource:Supplied
The next day, Cousins allegedly did the same thing, attending the school and shouting the names of his children over the fence.
A third alleged breach the next day at the same school prompted the deputy principal to ask Cousins to his office.
Three days later, at a church attended by Ms Tinecheff and her children, Cousins is alleged to have breached the 50m restriction by tapping Ms Tinecheff on the shoulder.
The next day, Cousins allegedly phoned Ms Tinecheff repeatedly, while she was with police, and then came to the house and shouted from the street.
Prosecutors said the aggravated stalking charge relates to numerous other breaches of the order, wrapped into one intimidating course of conduct.
Ms Tinecheff was said to be fearful for the safety of herself and her children because of Cousins’ addiction.
After witnessing “erratic and unreasonable” behaviour by Cousins following his arrest, police said they were again considering applying for Cousins to be detained for up to 28 days under the WA Mental Health Act because of his “ongoing psychosis”.
Magistrate Lemmon said convictions of the possession or the stalking charge would mean a likely prison term.
Cousins will be back in court in March.
Originally published as Broken Cousins to spend fortnight in jail