Former AFL player Nick Stevens convicted of fraud in pool installation scheme
Consensus Summary
A former AFL player Nick Stevens was convicted on April 2023 of fraud after defrauding six families in Mildura, Victoria, of approximately $171,000 for pool installations that were never legally completed. Stevens, who played 231 AFL games 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 experience with compliant installations, and left customers with unfinished or illegal pools. Stevensâ financial struggles in late 2017, including overdrawn accounts and debts, were cited as context for his actions. The case, delayed by three aborted trials, centered on his failure to obtain permits and his deception about project timelines. Stevens remains in custody ahead of a May 2024 sentencing hearing, with his defence arguing he initially intended to complete the work but faced obstacles. Victims like Ben Knight testified to losing tens of thousands of dollars, while Stevensâ barrister contended his clientâs financial difficulties and attempts to resolve issues undermined the fraud claim.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nick Stevens, 46, was found guilty of 12 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and 1 charge of using a false document in the County Court of Victoria on Monday, April 2023
- Stevens was acquitted on 1 charge of obtaining a financial advantage by deception relating to the first victimâs part-payment in 2017
- The fraud involved six families in Mildura, Victoria, who paid Stevens a total of approximately $171,000 for pool installations that were never legally completed or delivered
- Stevens worked as a distributor for Leisure Pools and operated a pool installation business in 2017 while the alleged fraud occurred
- Judge Fiona Todd remanded Stevens into custody, rejecting his barrister Jim Stavrisâ request to extend bail ahead of a pre-sentence hearing on May 21, 2024
- Stevens pleaded not guilty to all 14 charges and was charged in 2019, with the case delayed by three aborted trials
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes alleged Stevens never intended to install legally compliant pools, despite having prior experience with compliant installations under Brian McDonnellâs supervision
- Mildura Council issued stop-work orders for Stevensâ pool installations in 2017 due to lack of permits, with the first order issued in May 2017
- Stevensâ financial difficulties in late 2017 included overdrawn bank accounts and outstanding debts to Leisure Pools and a transport company
- One victim, Ben Knight, testified he paid Stevens over $30,000 for a pool he never received, citing excuses like bad weather and legal disputes with Leisure Pools
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Stevens was described as a former Carlton vice-captain and played 231 AFL games over 12 seasons for Port Adelaide and Carlton (1998â2009)
- The false document charge related to a doctored screenshot Stevens allegedly sent to a shipping company, falsely showing he had transferred funds for a pool deliveryâhe denied sending it but admitted the screenshot appeared false
- Judge Fiona Todd summarized the juryâs central question as whether Stevens âproven beyond reasonable doubtâ that he knew his representations about legally compliant pools were false at the time
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes stated Stevens was a âhabitual liarâ and accused him of a âclear conflictâ between his claims and evidence from victims and Brian McDonnell
- Stevens claimed he believed permits would be issued after final approvals and had clients sign forms to apply for permits, which he sent to McDonnell
- McDonnell testified he had no contact with Stevens or the six families about their pools despite Stevensâ claims of an ongoing arrangement
- ABC included a photograph caption noting Stevensâ age as 45 (compared to NEWSCOMAUâs 46)
- ABC emphasized Stevensâ post-AFL career as a coach for SANFL club Glenelg (not mentioned in NEWSCOMAU)
- ABC highlighted that Stevensâ landscaping business was active during the alleged fraud, adding context to his dealership agreement with Leisure Pools
- ABC quoted Mildura Rural City Councilâs building surveyor Mark Yanstes directly about permits not being retroactively issued, a detail not present in NEWSCOMAU
- ABCâs summary of Stevensâ defence focused on his financial difficulties in late 2017 and his claim that he âtried to fixâ the issues, framing it as âchronology and datesâ being key
- ABC included a direct quote from Ben Knight about paying Stevens over $30,000 and receiving excuses like âbad weatherâ and âtruck breakdownsâ
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states Stevens is 46 years old, while ABC states he is 45 years old
- NEWSCOMAU describes Stevens as a former Carlton vice-captain but does not mention his SANFL coaching role, which ABC includes
- NEWSCOMAU reports Stevens denied sending the false document screenshot but suggested his ex-partner may have done so, while ABC does not mention this detail
- NEWSCOMAU explicitly states Stevens was found guilty of âusing a false documentâ related to a doctored screenshot, but ABC does not specify the nature of the false document beyond the general charge
- NEWSCOMAU includes Judge Fiona Toddâs direct quote about the âcentral questionâ for the jury, which ABC does not replicate
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