Australian star may end up in jail.
Nick Stevens pictured at the courthouse in 2018. EPA / AOP
Former AFL star Nick Stevens46, faces a prison sentence in Australia.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation ABC’s According to Stevens, he was defrauded of more than 100,000 euros with his swimming pool scam.
The ex-footballer offered a swimming pool installation service in the Mildura area in 2017 despite not having the required permits or insurance.
In the end, six families ended up paying Stevens for pools that were either built incorrectly or not built at all. Some families were just left with a huge hole in their backyard.
Stevens’ victims were heard in court on Thursday. The scam caused huge financial losses and stress to the victims. One of the victims said the saga that began with the pool scam led to the collapse of her marriage. Some victims had to sell their possessions to repair the damage.
According to the prosecutor, Stevens has shown no remorse. He has systematically denied that he committed the crime.
The court found Stevens guilty of 12 charges. The defense is trying to seek a lighter sentence for the man, arguing that as a former AFL player, Stevens would be in a particularly vulnerable position if he was jailed. According to the defense, Stevens has been kept in isolation for his safety.
Stevens has been in custody for almost two months now. He will hear his sentence on June 15.
Stevens ended his AFL career with Carlton in 2009, which began in 1998. Until 2003, he represented Port Adelaide.
