— With AAP.
Just one month on from Channel Seven’s documentary Ben Cousins: Coming Clean, the former West Coast Eagles captain has been arrested in Perth.
On Wednesday, police were searching for a vehicle that was seen driving erratically in Perth’s inner southern suburbs when they found Cousins sleeping next to his parked car.
The 41-year-old was then arrested, allegedly in possession of 2.5 grams of methylamphetamine.
Watch the trailer for Channel Seven’s Ben Cousins: Coming Clean below. Post continues after video.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, Cousins’ lawyer, Michael Tudori, said he could not comment on the incident.
“I can’t talk about it. I can’t confirm anything,” he said.
According to Nine News, Cousins, who is now in a holding cell in Perth, is reportedly due in court on Thursday to answer to the alleged drug charges.
It’s been just one year since the former AFL player was released from prison.
The 41-year-old was released from prison on bail in April 2019 after being charged with several offences, including drug possession, making threats and breaking a violence restraining order.
He was previously imprisoned for 12 months in February 2017. after being charged with offences related to drugs, stalking and violence.
Cousins’ latest arrest comes just three weeks after the Brownlow Medal winner appeared in a paid television interview on Channel Seven.
In the interview, which was described by viewers as “uncomfortable” and “appalling”, Cousins claimed he wanted to turn his life around.
After admitting that he had “stuffed things up royally”, Cousins said: “I hope people can see I’m having a crack at turning it around.”
When presenter Basil Zempilas asked Cousins whether he had been using drugs amid filming the documentary, however, Cousins’ response was vague.
“We’ve been with you for about five days now filming this documentary, can you tell us categorically Ben, have you used drugs in this time?” Zempilas asked.
“No, um… no, but it’s something that um,” Cousins responded.
He later added: “It’s just one of those things, I’d rather not go there. I don’t think it helps.”
When asked by Zempilas if he had taken drugs in the past week or month, he responded: “Well, you know, not today is enough for me and it should be enough for other people.”
While on the topic of his past drug use, Cousins expressed remorse for his role in creating a drug culture within the West Coast Eagles club.
Listen to the latest episode of Mamamia’s daily news podcast, The Quicky, below.
“I am sorry, I am remorseful,” he said.
“And the fallout from that has been pretty significant on the club,” he added.
“So, it has taken a while since that time for the club to find itself back in a position like it is today.”
He also opened up about returning to prison for the second time, sharing that he felt “completely powerless at the time”.
“It was probably the first time in a long time where, you know, you feel completely powerless over the situation that you’re in and you can’t control, manipulate, change the predicament that you’re in,” Cousins said, recalling his most recent stint in prison.
“There’s an element of [embarrassment]. Yeah, I’m certainly not proud,” he added.
“No matter what I did. I was going to be forced to go through it and suck it up and, you know, that scared me.”
Cousins was dropped from the West Coast Eagles in 2007 after being charged with possession of a prohibited drug.
The next year, Cousins was picked up by Richmond for a final two-year chapter in his tumultuous playing career.
Following his retirement from the AFL in 2010, Cousins' addiction spiralled, as he faced a number of arrests.
In 2015, he was taken into custody three times in a single fortnight – for leading Perth police on a low-speed car chase, then for trespassing on a Special Air Service’s base, and finally for driving erratically in a "bizarre incident" outside a Sikh temple.
In 2016, he crashed his car head-on into a truck while under the influence of drugs.
Behind closed doors, the breakdown of Cousins' relationship with his former partner, Maylea Elizabeth Tinecheff, led to even more alarming incidents.
In 2017, Cousins hounded Tinecheff with 2000 text messages and phone calls in just two months. He also approached her physically on several occasions at her home and her children's school. The incidents led to Cousins' imprisonment.
Feature Image: Channel Seven.
For more on this topic:
- "I felt completely powerless." The uncomfortable viewing of Ben Cousins' new documentary.
- Ben Cousins' downfall from AFL star to convicted criminal has reached terrifying new depths.
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