Jury dismissed in trial of pool builder Nick Stevens

The Victorian County Court judge presiding over the criminal dishonesty trial of former AFL footballer and swimming pool builder Nick Stevens has stepped down, revealing she had previously prosecuted him in her role as crown prosecutor. She also discharged the jury.

County Court Judge Fran Dalziel told the court she needed to recuse herself from the case to avoid any perception of an unfair hearing.

She said that nobody is suggesting she is biased, but there could be the perception. Stevens was found not guilty in the previous matter presided over by Judge Dalziel.

A new four-week trial is listed to begin in late February 2026.

Stevens is facing 18 fraud-related charges, including obtaining a financial advantage by deception, after allegedly accepting $170,000 from six families to install swimming pools that were either not started or left incomplete at properties in the Mildura region.

He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.