A couple’s marriage unraveled after a former AFL player-turned-conman left an empty pit in their backyard.
Nick Stevens, a former player for Carlton and Port Adelaide, appeared in Melbourne’s County Court today where those affected by his actions shared their experiences during a pre-sentence hearing.
A jury convicted Stevens, 46, of 12 counts of obtaining financial advantage by deception and one count of using a false document. These charges stem from defrauding six families of around $157,000 through his pool installation business back in 2017.
Although Stevens had successfully installed six pools that met legal standards, he did so under the oversight of a registered builder. Later, he ventured out on his own without the necessary license, registration, permits, or insurance.
He accepted payments from these families but either left them with pools that did not meet compliance standards or, in some cases, did not install a pool at all, leaving only large holes in their backyards.
The court heard that many of his victims were retirees or nearing retirement, with limited financial flexibility. They had hoped to install pools for their children or grandchildren in the hot regional town of Mildura.
“An exhausting and relentless nightmare that I was reminded of every day, seeing the hole in my yard,” Ben Knight said, in a statement read to court by prosecutor Toni Stokes.
The offending took a toll on his family, who had been excited about getting a pool, but were left with an empty hole for years.
“The pressure led to fighting between me and my wife over financial loss … a rollercoaster that eventually led to the breakdown in our marriage,” he said.
Rod Charman said Stevens’ constant lies, empty promises and blaming of others had drained him emotionally and financially.
“Each time I was told an untruth I got increasingly anxious over the pool being supplied, to be duped by Stevens and his lies,” he said.
“The build-up of these lies infuriated me. The impact on our children and grandchildren of not having a pool for Christmas, as we had been promised, was profound and affected me deeply.”
Stevens, who played 231 games in the AFL until retiring in 2009 due to injury, watched via videolink from Hopkins Prison in Ararat, where his lawyer said he will likely stay for the rest of his sentence.
Barrister Jim Stavris urged the judge to spare Stevens a longer prison term, as he had already spent 52 days behind bars since the verdict in March and there had been lengthy delays to finalising the matter.
Stevens’ profile as a former footballer meant he was a vulnerable prisoner who had to be held in protection, he said as he asked for Stevens to receive a community work order.
“He’s going to do his time a bit harder than most,” Stavris said.
“The benefit to community is for him to get out and keep working … under a strict community corrections order, so he can look at ways that he can better himself.”
Judge Fiona Todd ordered Stevens be assessed for a community corrections order, but noted that she was unlikely to hand him a sentence other than a term of imprisonment.
“The role of punishment, denunciation, is powerful in this,” she said.
Stokes said Stevens had shown no remorse as he continued to maintain his innocence, and – coupled with the impact of his offending on victims – prison with a non-parole period was warranted.
Stevens was remanded in custody and will return to the court for his sentence on June 15.
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