Former AFL star Nick Stevens in hot water over pool installations

Former Port Adelaide and Carlton player Nick Stevens has been accused of scamming six families out of $171K through “illegally and shoddily” installed pools.

Nick Stevens is accused of ripping off six families in a dodgy swimming pool scam. Picture: David Caird

Former AFL star Nick Stevens ripped off six families in a dodgy swimming pool scam that left some out of pocket and with giant holes in their backyard, a jury has been told.

Stevens, who played more than 200 games for Port Adelaide and Carlton before retiring in 2009, appeared in the County Court on Monday for the opening day of his trial on 18 fraud, deception and theft charges. Stevens has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In her opening address, prosecutor Toni Stokes told the jury Stevens, 45, defrauded $171,098 from six families in Mildura, in the state’s far northwest, between 2017 and 2018.

The court heard Stevens was running his own landscaping business and had entered a dealership agreement with global pool manufacturer Leisure Pools.

Under the deal, Leisure Pools supplied the pools, while Stevens was responsible for installing them. He was responsible for obtaining building permits, insurance, and major building contracts but allegedly failed to secure any.

The court heard the families made payments to Stevens believing they would be used to purchase pools from Leisure Pools and installed by him.

But in four cases, he allegedly failed to purchase the pools from the manufacturer.

Nick Stevens leaves County Court with his lawyer Jim Stavris. Picture: David Caird

Two families were left with “illegally and shoddily” installed pools – one of which was cracked, later removed, and reinstalled at another customer’s home, the prosecutor said.

The court heard three others never had a pool installed – with two of those families left with giant holes in their backyards.

Ms Stokes said Stevens was not registered as a builder and no contracts were provided to the families and, in some instances, stop work notices were issued by the council.

Despite promises to refund their money, she said only one family was fully reimbursed, while another received a partial refund of $10,000 – with the rest missing out.

She told the jury Stevens had previously installed six pools through a registered building company, with permits, insurance and contracts in place.

“The accused knew how to do it legally because he had already done it six times,” she said.

Ms Stokes said Stevens was having “cash flow difficulties” and falsified a receipt for the purchase of one pool from Leisure Pools which was trucked up from the Barossa Valley in South Australia.

Stevens played 231 games for Port Adelaide and Carlton before retiring in 2009. Picture: David Caird

She said it was the Crown’s case that Stevens knew he could not install a compliant pool, but took payments anyway.

“The complainants will tell you how the accused appeared professional,” she said.

“He promised to install their pools in an efficient time frame using top-quality materials.”

Instead, she said the families were met with “endless delays” and excuses – including bad weather, legal issues, a lack of phone service, or the death of a friend.

In his opening address, defence barrister Jim Stavris urged the jury to consider all the evidence, noting that the timing of events would be a key part of the case.

He said the jury would also hear that his client had previously installed about 150 pools.

The court heard customers, staff from Leisure Pools, building experts and investigators would be called to give evidence over coming days.

The trial, before judge Fran Dalziel, continues.