Former AFL player Nick Stevens convicted of fraud in pool installation scheme
Consensus Summary
A former AFL player, Nick Stevens, was convicted in April 2024 of fraudulently 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 and later worked as a Leisure Pools distributor, was found guilty of 12 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document. Prosecutors alleged he never intended to install compliant pools, despite prior experience with legal installations, and left customers with unfinished projects or no pools at all. Stevensâ financial troubles in late 2017, including overdrafts and debts, coincided with the fraud. While acquitted on one charge, he was remanded into custody ahead of sentencing in May, with his defence arguing he initially believed permits would be issued. Both sources agree on key details like the number of victims, total fraud amount, and the role of Mildura Councilâs stop-work orders, but differ slightly on his age, specific charges, and defence arguments.
â Verified by 2+ sources
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 pool installations 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 witness evidence, including that of registered builder 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 McDonnellâMcDonnell testified he had no contact about these familiesâ pools
- The case centered on pools installed in Mildura in 2017 while Stevens worked as a Leisure Pools distributor, with four families left out of pocket after no refunds
- ABC included a photograph caption noting Stevensâ conviction was photographed by AAPâs David Crosling and Tracey Nearmy
- The article emphasized Stevensâ financial deception involved âtens of thousands of dollarsâ for pools that were either ânot permitted,â âgiant holes in backyards,â or ânothing at allâ
- Mildura Rural City Councilâs building surveyor Mark Yanstes was quoted directly about permits not being retroactively issued, forcing families to demolish or leave pools as-is
- ABC highlighted Stevensâ post-AFL career as a coach for SANFL club Glenelg (1998â2009 AFL playing career specified as 231 matches, but no additional context on coaching years beyond the club name)
- The article framed Stevensâ defence argument as focusing on the âchronology and datesâ of his agreements with families to suggest he initially intended to comply with legal requirements
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states Stevens was 46 at the time of conviction, while ABC states he was 45
- NEWSCOMAU describes Stevensâ false document charge as involving a doctored screenshot sent to a shipping company, with Stevens denying sending it but admitting its falsity; ABC does not mention this specific detail or the shipping company context
- NEWSCOMAU explicitly states Stevens was a former Carlton vice-captain, while ABC does not mention this leadership role
- NEWSCOMAU includes Judge Fiona Toddâs direct quote about the juryâs central question, which ABC does not replicate
- ABC emphasizes the âtens of thousands of dollarsâ figure for total losses without specifying the exact amount ($171,000) or breakdown per family, while NEWSCOMAU provides the precise total and partial/zero refund details
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