News
A man has been found guilty of burgling the home of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.
The offence taking place in April 2024.
Valentino Nikolov was one of a professional gang of burglars who stole more than £1m worth of items from three homes in the north-east, including that of Alexander Isak.
After the jury found the accused guilty, the judge has said prison is inevitable for Nikolov.
**BBC News [report](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05m217q6y7o) – 18 March 2025:**
_‘A man has been found guilty of burgling three wealthy homes, including that of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak._
_Valentino Nikolov, 32, was part of a professional gang of touring burglars which stole more than £1m worth of goods from three homes in the north-east of England, Newcastle Crown Court heard._
_His sister, brother and nephew had previously admitted burgling the homes, with the gang to be sentenced at a future date._
_A fifth man, 58-year-old Safet Ramic from Birmingham, was found not guilty of handling stolen goods._
_Nikolov, of Tew Park Road, Birmingham, had represented himself during the trial with the aid of an Italian interpreter._
_Jurors took less than two hours of deliberation to find him guilty._
_The gang travelled to the North East three times from the Birmingham area to commit the crimes in April last year, the trial had heard._
_They stole £1m worth of valuables, including a CBE medal, from a home in Jesmond, Newcastle, and designer shoes, handbags and jewellery worth £100,000 from a house in Whitburn, South Tyneside._
_On 4 April, they broke into Mr Isak’s home in Darras Hall, Ponteland, at about 20:00 BST, with the striker discovering the break in when he returned two hours later._
_A glass door had been smashed and an “untidy search” of his home carried out, with up to £10,000 in cash and jewellery worth £68,000 stolen, the court heard._
_The haul included bespoke men’s bracelets, necklaces and rings from Frost of London, while the star’s Audi RS6 estate car was taken and later found abandoned._
_The gang also took a safe that had been left by a previous occupant but it was empty._
_Judge Robert Spragg said prison would be “inevitable” but he needed more information about Nikolov and his associates before determining their sentence._
_Nikolov’s brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, their sister Jela Jovanoic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23 – who all reside in Italy – previously admitted conspiracy to commit burglary._
_A pet camera in Mr Isak’s living room captured Giacomo moving around the room, with him being identified in part by a distinctive PSG logo on his tracksuit bottoms._
_The group was captured on CCTV at service stations in the region and travelled in a Citroen C3 using registration plates stolen from a car in Chester-le-Street, County Durham.’_