Former AFL player Nick Stevens convicted of pool installation fraud in Victoria
Consensus Summary
A former AFL player Nick Stevens was convicted of fraud after defrauding six families in Mildura, Victoria, of $171,000 for uninstalled swimming pools. Stevens, who played for Port Adelaide and Carlton, was found guilty of 12 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document, though he was acquitted on one charge. Prosecutors alleged he never intended to install legally compliant pools, despite prior training and supervision by a registered builder, while his defence argued he genuinely believed permits would be issued. The case involved delays and three aborted trials, with Stevens remanded into custody pending sentencing. Four families were left out of pocket, while others received partial or full refunds, and Mildura Council issued stop-work orders due to missing permits. Stevensâ financial struggles by late 2017 were cited as evidence of his desperation, though his defence maintained he attempted to fulfil his contracts despite difficulties. The jury rejected his claims that permits were pending, finding his testimony inconsistent with witness evidence and documentation.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nick Stevens, a former Port Adelaide and Carlton AFL player, is facing trial for defrauding six clients of his pool installation business in Mildura, Victoria
- Stevens was charged with 13 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document in 2019
- He entered into contracts to install swimming pools for a total of $171,000 in 2017, but by early 2018, none of the projects were legally compliant or completed
- Stevens pleaded not guilty to all charges and was found guilty of 12 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document
- Four of the six clients were left out of pocket, one received a full refund, and another received a partial refund
- Stevens was remanded into custody after the verdict, with a plea hearing scheduled for May 21, 2024
- Stevens was a distributor for Leisure Pools and had previously installed six legally compliant pools under the supervision of registered builder Brian McDonnell
- Mildura Council issued stop-work orders for Stevensâ pool installations due to lack of permits, with the first order issued in May 2017
- Stevensâ financial difficulties by late 2017 included overdraft bank accounts and outstanding debts to Leisure Pools and a transport company
- The jury heard Stevens disputed allegations, claiming he believed permits would be issued after pool installation and that he was involved in signing paperwork for permits
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Defence barrister Jim Stavris argued Stevensâ financial difficulties by late 2017 were evidence he was âinvolved in signing the paperwork and giving it to Brian McDonnellâ for permits
- Stavris suggested Stevensâ working relationship with Brian McDonnell was akin to âlicence-lendingâ and that McDonnell was âspookedâ by SPASAâs complaints
- Stevens claimed he believed the working relationship with McDonnell was ongoing and that McDonnell was responsible for obtaining permits
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes stated Stevensâ account was âin clear contrastâ with evidence, with âalmost allâ clients not remembering signing documents and no record of permits existing
- Stevensâ defence argued he started jobs âthinking the permits were comingâ and that if he intended to defraud, he would have âtaken their money and runâ
- The case was plagued by delays, including three aborted trials before the final verdict
- 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
- Mildura Rural City Councilâs building surveyor Mark Yanstes testified that permits were not allowed to be issued retrospectively, forcing families to demolish or leave pools as-is
- Stevensâ defence argued the chronology of dates and witnesses was crucial to proving his intention to install pools was genuine at the time of agreements
- Stevens was described as a âhabitual liarâ by prosecutor Toni Stokes during closing remarks
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 claims Stevens âdisputed thisâ when prosecutors alleged he knew he couldnât fulfil legal requirements, but Article 2 states he âpleaded not guilty to all chargesâ without directly disputing the allegations
- Article 1 says Brian McDonnell âdescribed this characterisation as 100% incorrectâ about âlicence-lending,â but Article 2 does not mention this contradiction directly
- Article 1 states Stevens âbelieved the working relationship with Mr McDonnell was continuing,â while Article 2 notes McDonnell âhad no contact with Stevens or the six familiesâ about their pools
- Article 1 mentions Stevens âpaid $10,000 to Melbourne builder Brian McDonnell for training,â but Article 2 does not reference this payment explicitly
- Article 1 claims Stevens âinstalled six legally compliant pools under his company Bricolâs supervision,â while Article 3 does not specify the number of compliant pools installed
Source Articles
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