SA court fines Cameron Sellick $5000 over Christmas gift pool that collapsed with children in it

The pool he built was supposed to be a Christmas gift, but this builder is no Santa – it started to collapse as five children were swimming in it.

A backyard pool is the ultimate Aussie Christmas gift – unfortunately for one Adelaide family, their installer was more Grinch than Santa.

Having failed to build their 25,000L pool before the big day, as contracted, Cameron Sellick supposedly finished the job on December 27, 2019.

Days later, as the family’s five children enjoyed their playtime, the pool broke free of its frame and started to fall apart.

“It was actually heart-stopping because the kids were in the pool as it lifted up,” the children’s mother told The Advertiser on Thursday.

The pool built by unlicensed builder Cameron Sellick that ruined a family's Christmas. Source: Attorney-General's Department

“We had to get everybody safely out, and thank goodness it didn’t fully collapse while people were in it.”

Sellick’s failures as a builder – and his Scrooge-like refusal of a refund – has now landed him a $5000 fine from the Adelaide Magistrates Court.

It found that when Sellick, 56, of Elizabeth Downs, first assembled the pool, one of the bottom rails had not been properly installed.

The following day, he returned to reassemble the pool – after he left, the right hand-rail and side wall lifted up with the children inside.

As a result of Sellick’s actions, the pool was unusable due to the damage caused and the unsafe structure.

Cameron Sellick. Picture: Facebook

On Thursday, Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Dini Soulio said Sellick was not licensed to undertake pool repairs or installation.

“He carried out substandard work, ignoring the valid concerns of his client and robbing those

children of a Christmas present to remember,” he said.

“Even more frustrating, it has taken more than nine months to resolve this matter, in part due to the fact that Sellick failed to attend any court hearings.

“Behaviour like this has the potential to tarnish the reputation of honest, licensed builders who do the right thing by their customers.

“I’m pleased the courts acknowledged the seriousness of this offending.”

The court also ordered Sellick refund the family the $3000 he charged for his installation work – the mother said she doubted it would be paid.

“I don’t have any confidence I will see that money,” she said.

“I’m just glad this has been resolved, and I hope it won’t now be able to happen to somebody else.”