Former AFL player Nick Stevens convicted of fraud in pool installation scheme
Consensus Summary
Former AFL player Nick Stevens was convicted in May 2024 of fraud after defrauding six families in Mildura, Victoria, of $170,000–$171,000 for pools they never received or had illegally installed. Stevens, who played 231 AFL games for Carlton and Port Adelaide, was found guilty on 13 counts—12 for obtaining financial advantage by deception and one for using a false document—though acquitted on one charge. Prosecutors alleged he knew he lacked permits after the first council stop-work order in 2017 but continued taking payments, while his defence claimed he intended to comply but faced financial and permit delays. Both sources agree on the core facts: the scale of the fraud, the lack of permits, and Stevens’ remand in custody until sentencing. However, details vary on the timeline of his financial troubles, the extent of refunds to victims, and his specific excuses for delays. The case highlights systemic failures in permit processes and Stevens’ exploitation of victims’ trust, with his legal team arguing he was a victim of his own poor planning rather than a deliberate fraudster.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nick Stevens was found guilty on 12 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and 1 charge of using a false document in the County Court of Victoria (May 2024).
- Stevens was acquitted on 1 charge of obtaining a financial advantage by deception relating to the first victim’s part-payment.
- Six families in Mildura, Victoria, were defrauded of a total of $170,000–$171,000 for pools they never received or had illegally installed.
- Stevens, a former Carlton and Port Adelaide AFL player (1998–2009), ran a landscaping business and had a dealership agreement with Leisure Pools.
- Mildura Rural City Council issued stop-work orders on Stevens’ pool projects due to lack of building permits, with the first order in May 2017.
- Stevens’ bail was denied by Judge Fiona Todd, and he was remanded in custody until his May 21 plea hearing.
- Stevens pleaded not guilty to all 14 fraud-related charges and had previously faced three aborted trials due to delays.
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes alleged Stevens knew he was operating without permits after the first stop-work order but continued taking new customers.
- Stevens claimed he intended to install legally compliant pools but failed due to financial difficulties and delays in permits.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Former Carlton vice-captain Nick Stevens played 231 AFL matches and later coached SANFL club Glenelg.
- One victim, Ben Knight, paid Stevens over $30,000 for a pool he never received, citing excuses like bad weather and legal battles with Leisure Pools.
- Stevens’ defence argued he tried to ‘fix’ the pools rather than absconding with money, emphasizing chronology and intention at the time of agreements.
- Mildura man Ben Knight’s testimony was specifically highlighted as a victim who paid $30,000+ for no pool.
- Judge Fiona Todd’s remarks about the ‘chronology and dates’ in evidence were quoted directly from ABC’s reporting.
- Stevens showed ‘little reaction’ to the verdicts, sitting in the dock with eyes forward.
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes asked the jury: ‘If the accused intended to comply with legal requirements, why were there no major building contracts or domestic building insurance?’
- Stevens’ defence argued he had prior experience installing six legally compliant pools under a training agreement with Brian McDonnell (Bricol).
- Stevens claimed he sent permit applications to McDonnell but McDonnell denied contact about the six families’ pools.
- Stokes accused Stevens of being a ‘habitual liar’ and noted a ‘clear conflict’ between his claims and victims’ evidence.
- Stevens’ financial difficulties included bank overdrafts and outstanding debts to Leisure Pools and a transport company by early 2018.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports Stevens had financial difficulty ‘towards the end of 2017,’ while NEWSCOMAU states his bank accounts were in overdraft and debts were outstanding by ‘early 2018.’
- NEWSCOMAU describes Stevens as ‘a former Carlton vice-captain’ (implied leadership role), but ABC does not explicitly state this leadership detail beyond his vice-captainship.
- ABC mentions Stevens’ defence argued he ‘tried to fix’ the pools rather than absconding, while NEWSCOMAU focuses on his claim of ‘intending to comply’ with permits but failing due to delays.
- NEWSCOMAU reports Stevens ‘accepted the doctored screenshot was false but denied sending it,’ suggesting his ex-partner may have been responsible, while ABC does not include this nuance.
- ABC highlights ‘six Mildura families were left with either no pools, giant holes, or non-compliant pools,’ while NEWSCOMAU specifies ‘one family received a full refund and another a partial refund, while four were left out of pocket.’
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