Former AFL player Nick Stevens convicted of fraud in pool installation scheme
Consensus Summary
A former AFL player, Nick Stevens, was convicted in May 2024 of fraudulently defrauding six families in Mildura, Victoria, out of $170,000–$171,000 for swimming pools he never installed or delivered. Stevens, who played 231 AFL games and later coached, was found guilty on 13 counts—12 for obtaining financial advantage by deception and one for using a false document—after a jury trial that followed years of delays. Prosecutors proved he falsely promised legally compliant pools while operating without permits, leaving victims with unfinished projects or illegal installations. Stevens’ defence argued he initially intended to comply but faced financial troubles, though prosecutors called him a ‘habitual liar’ and highlighted inconsistencies in his testimony. He remains in custody until a May 21 plea hearing, with both sources agreeing he faces a likely jail sentence. The case underscores systemic failures in Mildura’s building permit process, where council stop-work orders were issued too late to prevent fraud. While both articles align on core facts, minor discrepancies include specifics about refunds, Stevens’ demeanor, and the exact phrasing of judicial remarks.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
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 pleaded not guilty to all 14 fraud-related charges in 2019, with the case spanning multiple trials and delays.
- Six families in Mildura, Victoria, were defrauded out of a total of $170,000–$171,000 for pools they never received or had illegally installed.
- Stevens was remanded in custody until his plea hearing on May 21, 2024, with Judge Fiona Todd denying bail extensions.
- The fraud involved Stevens falsely representing he would deliver and install legally compliant swimming pools, despite lacking permits or proper contracts.
- Mildura Rural City Council issued stop-work orders on Stevens’ pool sites in 2017–2018 due to missing permits, leading to four families being left with unfinished or illegal pools.
- Stevens previously played 231 AFL matches for Carlton and Port Adelaide between 1998 and 2009, later coaching SANFL’s Glenelg.
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes argued Stevens knew the legal requirements for pool installations after prior training and experience with compliant pools.
- One victim, Ben Knight, paid Stevens over $30,000 for a pool he never received, citing excuses like weather delays and legal disputes.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Judge Fiona Todd ‘knocked back’ Stevens’ bail extension request, explicitly stating she was not convinced bail should be extended.
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes quoted in court: ‘The accused obtained a financial advantage by deception in that he represented he would deliver and install an in-ground pool, which would be legally compliant.’
- Mildura Rural City Council’s building surveyor Mark Yanstes testified that permits could not be issued retrospectively, forcing families to demolish or leave pools as-is.
- Stevens’ defence barrister Jim Stavris argued Stevens ‘tried to fix’ the issues and claimed his intention was to install compliant pools, citing financial difficulties in late 2017.
- ABC included specific victim quote: ‘He had multiple excuses for why he could not install the pool, including bad weather, the truck delivering the pool had broken down and ongoing legal battles with Leisure Pools.’
- ABC noted Stevens had a ‘training agreement’ with registered builder Brian McDonnell for six legally compliant pools, but McDonnell denied contact with Stevens about the six fraudulent cases.
- Stevens showed ‘little reaction’ to the verdicts, seated with his ‘eyes kept straight forward’ during the announcement.
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes asked the jury: ‘If the accused intended to comply with the legal requirements, why were there no major building contracts, no domestic building insurance, why were they not asked to complete building permits?’
- Stokes stated Stevens had ‘run into financial difficulty’ by early 2018, with bank accounts in overdraft and debts to Leisure Pools and a transport company.
- The false document charge involved a ‘doctored screenshot’ Stevens allegedly sent to a shipping company, falsely showing a fund transfer—he denied sending it but admitted the screenshot appeared false.
- Stokes accused Stevens of being a ‘habitual liar’ and highlighted a ‘clear conflict’ between his claims and evidence from victims and McDonnell.
- NEWSCOMAU emphasized Stevens’ prior experience with compliant pools under McDonnell’s supervision, noting he ‘got each of his clients to sign forms to apply for a permit’ but failed to follow through.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports Judge Fiona Todd ‘knocked back’ Stevens’ bail extension, while NEWSCOMAU states she was ‘unconvinced’ Stevens’ bail should be extended but does not use the word ‘knocked back’.
- NEWSCOMAU describes Stevens as ‘showing little reaction’ to the verdicts, while ABC does not mention his demeanor during the announcement.
- ABC states one family received a ‘full refund’ and another a ‘partial refund,’ but NEWSCOMAU only mentions ‘one family received a full refund’ without specifying the second case.
- ABC quotes Prosecutor Toni Stokes as saying Stevens ‘represented he would deliver and install an in-ground pool, which would be legally compliant,’ while NEWSCOMAU frames her argument as questioning the absence of contracts/insurance/permits—no direct quote comparison exists.
- NEWSCOMAU claims Stevens’ false document involved a ‘doctored screenshot’ he ‘denied sending,’ while ABC does not specify the nature of the false document beyond it being a ‘false document’ and Stevens admitting the screenshot appeared false.
Source Articles
Ex-AFL player ripped off pool customers
A former AFL star, who had a stellar 12-season career, defrauded six families of tens of thousands of dollars through his pool installation business....
Former AFL player Nick Stevens found guilty of dishonesty charges
A jury has found AFL player Nick Stevens guilty of deceptively charging families for swimming pools they never received....