Former AFL player Nick Stevens convicted of fraud in pool business scheme
Consensus Summary
Former AFL player Nick Stevens was convicted of fraud after defrauding six clients in Mildura, Victoria, by taking $171,000 for pool installations he never completed. Stevens, who played 231 games for Port Adelaide and Carlton, was found guilty on 12 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document, though he was acquitted on one charge related to the first victimās part-payment. Prosecutors alleged Stevens never intended to install legally compliant pools, despite his claims that he had an ongoing arrangement with registered builder Brian McDonnell to obtain permits. Clients were left with unfinished or shoddily installed pools, and Stevens moved to Melbourne in early 2018, stopping communication with irate customers. Stevensā defence argued he believed permits would be approved and that he tried to resolve issues with clients, but prosecutors called him a āhabitual liarā due to conflicting evidence. Stevens was remanded in custody until his plea hearing in May, with prosecutors expecting a āreasonableā jail term.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nick Stevens, a former Port Adelaide and Carlton AFL player with 231 games, is facing trial for defrauding six clients in Mildura, Victoria, over a pool installation business
- Stevens was charged with 13 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document, related to a pool business that took $171,000 from clients in 2017
- Stevens pleaded not guilty to all charges and was found guilty on 12 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document
- Stevens left six clients with either unfinished pools, shoddily installed pools, or large holes in their backyards, with one client receiving a full refund and another a partial refund
- Stevens moved from Mildura to Melbourne in early 2018 and stopped responding to clients after failing to complete the pool installations
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes alleged Stevens never intended to install legally compliant pools and was aware of the legal requirements but failed to obtain permits or insurance
- Stevens previously installed six legally compliant pools under the supervision of registered builder Brian McDonnell and his company Bricol in 2017
- Mildura Rural City Council issued stop-work orders for Stevensā pool installations due to lack of permits, with the first order in May 2017
- Stevens was remanded in custody until his plea hearing on May 21, 2024, after Judge Fiona Todd denied an extension of his bail
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Defence barrister Jim Stavris argued Stevens believed he had an ongoing arrangement with Brian McDonnell to obtain permits and that McDonnell was 'spooked' by SPASA
- Stevens claimed he was involved in signing paperwork and giving it to Brian McDonnell, who was always getting the permits
- Prosecutor Toni Stokes accused Stevens of being a 'habitual liar' and questioned why he couldn't produce forms he claimed were sent to McDonnell
- Stevens' defence argued he started jobs thinking permits were coming and that he tried to fix issues with clients rather than taking their money and running
- Stevens disputed the allegation that he was not a truthful person, despite conflicting evidence from clients and McDonnell
- ABC reported Stevens was found not guilty on one charge of obtaining financial advantage by deception relating to the first victim's part-payment
- ABC included a quote from victim Ben Knight, who paid Stevens over $30,000 for a pool he never received, citing excuses like bad weather and legal battles with Leisure Pools
- ABC mentioned that Stevens was a former Carlton and Port Adelaide footballer who later coached SANFL club Glenelg
- ABC highlighted that Stevens was remanded in custody and would return to court on May 21 for a plea hearing, with no mention of a bail extension denial in the same detail as NEWSCOMAU
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU and ABC both report Stevens was found guilty on 12 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception, but NEWSCOMAU does not mention the acquittal on one charge for the first victim's part-payment, which ABC explicitly states
- NEWSCOMAU states Stevens' defence argued the working relationship with Brian McDonnell was ongoing and never terminated, while McDonnell himself described this characterisation as '100 percent incorrect'
- NEWSCOMAU reports Stevens claimed he sent forms to McDonnell for permits, but McDonnell testified he had no contact with Stevens or the six families after March 2017
- NEWSCOMAU and ABC both report Stevens claimed he was involved in signing paperwork for permits, but almost all clients testified they did not remember signing any forms
- NEWSCOMAU states Stevens' defence argued he was operating under the belief permits would be approved after pools were installed, while ABC does not include this specific argument
Source Articles
Ex-AFL player on trial over pool business
Former AFL player Nick Stevens always intended to complete works for customers of his pool installation business, his lawyer has argued....
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....
Ex-AFL star accused of being āhabitual liarā
A former footballer allegedly deceived six families into handing over $171,000 by claiming he would install legally-complaint pools, a jury has been told....
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....