Ben Cousins arrested again, charged with drug and violence offences

Former AFL star Ben Cousins has been refused bail after being arrested in Perth and charged with a series of offences, including breaching violence restraining order from his former partner.

Magistrate Nick Lemmon said Cousins could be handed a prison sentence for breaching the VRO multiple times.

He said Cousins was at “serious risk of reoffending”.

“Mr Cousins is still a very heavy user of meth,” he said, reports the ABC.

“There is also an established pattern of breaches of violence restraining orders.”

A spokesperson from WA Police said Cousins was arrested after police searched two properties in the Perth suburbs of Melville and Bicton.

Police took Cousins into custody after he arrived at the Melville address and charged him with seven counts of breaching a violence restraining order, aggravated stalking, and possessing a prohibited drug and smoking utensil.

He is expected to appear before the Armadale Magistrates Court Friday.

It’s just the latest in a string of incidents for Cousins, who was fined $2600 in December for drug offences and for breaching a VRO taken out by his former partner.

Read more: AFL angers fans by intervening in Ben Cousins situation

He was warned at the time to stick to his recovery treatment program and that any other breaches in the VRO would result in jail time.

In January, he fronted court over meth possession charge.

Last year, the AFL took the unprecedented step of offering to fund Cousins’ rehabilitation to aid is recovery, with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan saying they were “looking out for their own”.

Are you surprised by this? Given everything that’s happened with Grant Hackett lately as well, do you think our athletes need more support after they retire?