Ex-AFL footballer Nick Stevens jailed for pool fraud in 2017
Consensus Summary
Ex-AFL footballer Nick Stevens, 46, was sentenced to nine months in jail and a two-year community corrections order on June 15, 2026, for defrauding six families in Mildura, Victoria, in 2017. Stevens, who played 231 games for Carlton and Port Adelaide, operated an unlicensed pool installation business and took approximately $160,000 from victims without proper permits, insurance, or oversight. A jury convicted him of 12 charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document. Judge Fiona Todd emphasized that Stevens exploited the trust of regional communities, leaving some victims with unfinished pool holes or non-compliant installations. The fraud caused financial hardship and a marriage breakdown for one family. Stevens, who previously served six months in jail for domestic violence in 2015, was described as having shown no remorse during the trial. He will begin serving his sentence immediately and face additional community service upon release.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nick Stevens sentenced to nine months in jail and a two-year community corrections order on June 15, 2026
- Stevens defrauded six families in Mildura, Victoria, in 2017 through an unlicensed pool installation business
- Stevens obtained $167,000 (ABC) / $158,000 (The Age) from victims between March and October 2017
- Stevens was convicted on 12 charges of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document
- Stevens played 231 AFL games for Carlton and Port Adelaide before retiring in 2009
- Judge Fiona Todd described Stevens' actions as exploiting community trust and having a 'corrosive effect' on goodwill
- Stevens previously spent six months in jail for domestic violence offences in 2015
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Stevens spent 78 days in pre-sentence detention at Hopkins Correctional Centre, isolated for 23 hours a day for protection due to his notoriety
- One victim's marriage broke down due to the fraud, and others were left financially crippled
- Mildura Rural City Council issued a stop work order in May 2017 after the first victim's pool was found non-compliant, but Stevens continued accepting payments
- Stevens's lawyers argued for a community corrections order, noting he did not gamble the money away and was a vulnerable prisoner
- Judge Todd described Stevens's prospects of rehabilitation as 'decent'
- Stevens will be released from custody in late December 2026 and begin a two-year community corrections order, including 120 hours of unpaid community work and judicial monitoring
- Stevens maintains his innocence and pleaded not guilty to the 13 charges, taking the matter to trial after three previous trials were discharged
- Many victims were retirees or close to retirement, installing pools for their children or grandchildren in Mildura
- Stevens previously installed six legally compliant pools under the supervision of a registered builder before operating independently
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports Stevens obtained $167,000 from victims, while The Age reports $158,000
- ABC states Stevens spent six months in jail for domestic violence in 2015, but The Age does not mention this prior conviction
Source Articles
Disgraced former AFL footballer jailed for pool fraud
An ex-footballer has been locked up after a jury found him guilty of defrauding multiple families with his regional pool business.
Ex-AFL player jailed for defrauding families over swimming pools
Many of the regional victims were retirees or close to retirement, who were trying to install pools for their children or grandchildren.