Cousins Pleads Not Guilty But Denied Bail On Drug, Stalking Charges
Fallen AFL champion Ben Cousins has pleaded not guilty to a string of new charges, including aggravated stalking, but faces months behind bars in Perth after his bail bid was rejected.
The father of two admitted on Friday he had 2.5 grams of meth on him when police arrested him on Wednesday.
But the former Brownlow medalist denies stalking his ex-partner, Maylea Tinecheff, or that he breached a family violence restraining order 13 times.
A paid Channel 7 TV appearance about his personal struggles was allegedly the catalyst to Cousins' most recent troubles with the law.
Since the program aired, police say 41-year-old Cousins sent his ex-partner more than 100 phone calls and text messages, and turned up at her house on more than one occasion.
As it became clear his bail application was being denied, Cousins became emotional and agitated. He appeared to be fighting back tears and attempted to speak over the magistrate a number of times.
Magistrate Brian Mahon warned Cousins his video link from Hakea prison would be muted if he was not quiet.
The magistrate said Cousins has previously breached the restraining order on 22 occasions, and that he wasn't satisfied the former AFL star could be released into the public.
"Without creating a risk of harm to the community generally or to the protected party," Mahon said.
"On analysis of Mr Cousins' record, he endures a difficulty with methamphetamine, well known to the community."
"I am saddened that you endure such an issue with methamphetamine."
Mahon also noted Cousins had 22 convictions for breaching a violence restraining order and 20 of those offences resulted in a prison sentence.
Cousins was fined $1500 after pleading guilty to drug possession, but pleaded not guilty to 14 other charges. He will face trial in late October.
With AAP.