Alexander Isak: Newcastle United star describes impact of 'attack' on his home as family of burglars jailed

A family of burglars who raided the home of Premier League footballer Alexander Isak have been jailed.

Newcastle Crown Court heard they stole the Newcastle United striker's car, jewellery worth £68,000 and up to £10,000 in cash on 4 April 2024.

They were also convicted of burgling two other properties in the Tyneside area, stealing designer goods and other valuables worth more than £1.1m.

Valentino Nikolov, 32, and his brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, along with Jela Jovanovic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23, were jailed for between six and 10 years.

The court heard the gang had travelled from Italy to the UK last year to commit their burglaries. The three men carried out the raids, wearing gloves and masks, while Jela Jovanovic waited outside in a getaway car.

Prosecutor Dan Cordey said mobile phone evidence showed the gang had been carrying out "surveillance" at the Newcastle United training ground in the days leading up to the break-in "to establish movements to and from" the facility.

Isak was not at his home in Darras Hall, Northumberland, when the gang broke in.

In a victim impact statement read in court, Mr Isak said: "None of the property stolen from my home was ever recovered. The attack on my home has left me with a sense of unease and I fear it could reoccur."

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Isak, a Sweden international, moved to Newcastle United from Real Sociedad for a reported fee of £63m in 2022, helping the club win the League Cup in March - their first domestic trophy in 70 years.

The court heard the gang broke into Isak's home through a glass door and carried out an "untidy search" of the property, taking cash, jewellery and an Audi RS6 estate car, which a member of the public later found abandoned.

Isak told detectives he kept cash in bags upstairs, made up of notes of varying denominations as well as coins, and the amount taken was between £5,000 and £10,000.

He said bespoke men's jewellery from Frost of London worth about £68,000 - made up of bracelets, necklaces and rings - was taken.

A statement from Glenn Patterson, a player liaison officer at Newcastle United, said a spate of burglaries and attempted burglaries had forced the club to conduct an extensive review of player safety.

They invested in monitored alarm systems and recruited private security patrols "to allay players' fears for their families and homes".

Newcastle Crown Court also heard businesswoman Helen McCardle's four-storey home in Jesmond, Newcastle, was one of the other properties burgled by the gang while she was on holiday.

The thieves stole designer items including Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Louis Vuitton handbags, along with her CBE.

Valentino Nikolov was jailed for 10 years, Giacomo Nikolov for eight years, Jela Jovanovic for seven years and two months, and Charlie Jovanovic for six years and nine months.

Judge Robert Spragg said the sentences mean the defendants meet the Home Office criteria for automatic deportation.

Giacomo Nikolov, Jela Jovanovic and Charlie Jovanovic pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary. Valentino Nikolov was found guilty of the same offence after a trial in March.

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