Former Port Adelaide and Carlton midfielder Nick Stevens has been found guilty of 12 counts of obtaining a financial advantage by deception and one charge of using a false document by the County Court of Victoria, on Monday.
The charges relate to Stevens' failure to install pools in the regional Victorian city of Mildura, almost a decade ago, with the court arguing Stevens "never intended to install legally compliant pools" for six families when he was paid $171,000, in 2017.
Stevens was negligent, failing to inform his customers of the necessary permits they were required to obtain before works began, and for this reason, among many others, the prosecution sensationally labelled Stevens a 'habitual liar'.
Given he had undertaken the successful installation of legally compliant pools, albeit under supervision, prior to committing this deception, the prosecution also argued that Stevens was fully aware of his legal obligations when taking on board the defrauded customers.
That supervision was provided by registered builder Brian McDonnell, and his company Bricol, with Stevens' defence arguing that his client's relationship with that company was ongoing. The evidence provided by McDonnell directly contradicted that assertion.
"If the accused intended to comply with the legal requirements, why were there no major building contracts, no domestic building insurance, why were they (his customers) not asked to complete building permits?" Ms Toni Stokes, lead prosecutor, asked.
"The answer, ladies and gentlemen, is simple. The accused never intended to install legally compliant swimming pools for these complainants, he deceived them for his own gain."
The charge of using a false document pertains to Stevens alleged doctoring of a screenshot that was then sent to a shipping company, incorrectly showing that he had transferred them the requisite funds to deliver one of the plaintiff's pools.
