Troubled former AFL star Ben Cousins has been refused bail by a Perth magistrate over fresh charges related to drugs and family violence, including an allegation of stalking.

Cousins was refused bail after being charged with aggravated stalking of his former partner and the mother of his children, after a magistrate said the risk he would reoffend was too high, given he was a “very heavy meth user”.

Search warrants were issued at residences in Melville and Bicton overnight, and Cousins was arrested when he arrived in a car at the Melville home.

Inside the car, police allegedly found eight grams of methylamphetamine.

During a second search of the Bicton home, police allegedly found a smoking utensil and more methylamphetamine.

Cousins’ lawyer Michael Tudori told the Perth Magistrates Court that Cousins’ former partner was misusing a Violence Restraining Order (VRO).

“She uses it when it suits her, and when it doesn’t, she contacts police,” he said.

Mr Tudori said Cousins just wanted to see his children.

But the police prosecutor outlined seven alleged breaches of the VRO, which included attending his children’s school when their mother was there, attending church on a Sunday, and again approaching his former partner.

He also allegedly went to her house and refused to leave, and was shouting at her from the street.

Police said the aggravated stalking charge related to the “ongoing, systemic nature of the allegations”.

Magistrate Nick Lemmon said a breach of the VRO and aggravated stalking could result in a sentence of imprisonment if Cousins was found guilty.

He added, he believed in Cousin’s case, there was a “serious risk of reoffending”.

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

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

Bail was refused and Cousins was remanded in custody until his next appearance on March 10.

The Brownlow medallist and West coast premiership player has had a history of drug abuse and run-ins with the police since ending his 270-game AFL career at richmond in 2010.

Despite being one of the highest paid players in the AFL during his career, it is understood his battle with drugs has left him almost destitute.

Cousins was fined $2600 in a Perth court in December for breaching a violence restraining order.

In November an arrest warrant was issued for Cousins after he failed to appear in court, claiming he was unwell.

He was then involved in a crash with a truck in the early hours of the following day and was in hospital for two days.

In December AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the AFL was willing to fund a drug rehabilitation program for Cousins after News Corp revealed Cousins was effectively homeless.

– with ABC