Ex-AFL Player Faces Trial Over Alleged $171,000 Pool Installation Fraud
Former AFL footballer Nick Stevens is standing trial in Melbourne's County Court, accused of defrauding six families in regional Victoria who paid him to install swimming pools. Prosecutors allege that Stevens, who played for Carlton and Port Adelaide during his career, deceived the families into paying a total of $171,000 for pool installations that were either left incomplete or resulted in cracked structures.
Allegations of Deception and Financial Misconduct
According to prosecutor Toni Stokes, Stevens, 46, who retired from professional football in 2009, began selling pools in 2017 through his landscaping business. He became a dealer for Leisure Pools Australia in Mildura, which provided him access to a global manufacturer's marketing and branding resources. However, prosecutors claim that despite initially installing six legally compliant pools under a registered builder's supervision, Stevens later operated independently without the necessary licences or insurance.
Stevens is charged with 18 offences, including theft, obtaining financial advantage by deception, and using false documents. The court heard that he allegedly continued to falsely represent himself as capable of installing legally compliant pools, even though he could not obtain required council permits. On six occasions, prosecutors say he pocketed the payments instead of completing the work, leaving families with "giant holes in their backyards" or defective pools.
Victims' Experiences and Legal Proceedings
Ms Stokes described how the victims' initial excitement turned to "broken promises, endless delays, excuses, shock and frustration." She detailed that Stevens used Leisure Pools' letterhead for quotes, distributed brochures, and engaged with clients about pool designs, allegedly misleading them about his qualifications and capabilities.
The prosecutor noted that Stevens refunded $28,000 to one family and $10,000 to another, but the remaining payments were not repaid. About 20 witnesses are expected to testify, including the alleged fraud victims, Leisure Pools staff, and building professionals.
Defence Arguments and Trial Continuation
Stevens has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His barrister, Jim Stavris, emphasised that his client is innocent until proven guilty and urged jurors to carefully consider the evidence. Stavris pointed to the refunds as evidence of Stevens' intentions, arguing, "If somebody intends to defraud someone, deceive someone, they don't give money back."
The trial before Judge Fiona Todd continues, with a jury empanelled this week to hear the case. Stevens' career transition from AFL player to businessman is now under legal scrutiny as the court examines whether his pool installation ventures crossed into criminal deception.
