Cousins set for Eagles return after release
FALLEN AFL premiership player Ben Cousins has walked free from prison about two months shy of his one-year sentence for stalking his expartner and has already lined up a job with his former club West Coast.
But the 39-year-old drug addict must follow strict parole conditions including undergoing random urine tests, and attending programs and counselling.
The former Eagles captain was sentenced in March for causing “ongoing terror” by repeatedly breaching a violence restraining order taken out by Maylea Tinecheff, with whom he has two young children.
A bearded and smiling Cousins was picked up by his father Bryan from Acacia Prison yesterday morning and taken to the family home in Bicton.
The Eagles said Cousins had been offered part-time work with the club’s Community and Game Development department.
“We believe (it) will have mutual benefits for both parties,” the club said. “This has been a particularly hard time for Ben and his family and we look forward to him beginning the next phase of his life.”
The Prisoners Review Board determined that releasing Cousins “would not present an unacceptable risk to the safety of the community”.
The board took into consideration Cousins’ improved prison conduct, participation in voluntary programs and counselling, and a commitment to attend ongoing psychological counselling. “(It) demonstrates a motivation and willingness to address your offending behaviour,” it said.