Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's home was allegedly raided
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's home was allegedly raided
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak has revealed how he was left feeling "uneasy" and "unnerved" after being targeted by a gang of burglars.
Four members of the same family had the Newcastle United training ground in Benton, North Tyneside, under surveillance before targeting Mr Isak's home in Darras Hall, smashing their way in while he was at a colleague's home one evening last April. They stole cash and jewellery worth more than £70,000 and stole his Audi car, which Mr Isak said was used as a "battering ram" to get through his gates.
As Italian nationals Valentino Nikolov, Charlie Jovanovic, Jela Jovanovic and Giacomo Nikolov, who came to the UK specifically to carry out the high value heists, were locked up for a total of more than 30 years at Newcastle Crown Court for conspiracy to burgle which also saw them target award-winning Newcastle charity boss Helen McArdle, statements from the victims were read.
Mr Isak said: "I'm a professional footballer contracted to Newcastle United Football Club. I've lived in the North East since August 2022 and during my initial period of time living there I had not experienced any problems with either criminal or other behaviour which negatively impacted on my wellbeing.
"Things changed, however, on April 4 2024 when, following an evening at a colleague's house, I returned to my home address to find I had been burgled and my car stolen from the drive.
"It appeared a significant level of force had been used to attack the property. A large safe had been thrown over an upstairs balcony and an internal wall had been destroyed in order to remove the safe.
"My car had been used as a battering ram to force through the gates of my house. None of the property stolen from my home was recovered.
"The attack on my home has left me with a sense of unease and I fear it could reoccur now the thieves know the layout and entry points of my home.
"From what I've been told there has been a level of sophistication in the planning and execution of the attack on my home which I also found unnerving. I can't deny I feel a sense of unease when I leave and return to my home."
Burglars (L-r) Valentino Nikolov, Giacomo Nikolov, Jela Jovanovic and Charlie Jovanovic
In her victim impact statement, Mrs McArdle said she and her husband have worked extremely hard for everything they own. She said she received some of the bags and two watches back but cannot bring herself to use them as they remind her of what happened at her home in Jesmond.
Mrs McArdle added: "Personally, in 2015 I was awarded a CBE for services to the care home business and the community, which was presented to me by Queen Elizabeth. this award was one of the proudest moments of my working life, it's something I treasure dearly and they stole it.
"It has no value to them but they took it and I will most probably never get it back. I intended to pass this down to my family as an important family heirloom."
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Mrs McArdle added that she now finds it upsetting when she sees pictures of herself wearing items of jewellery that were stolen because she knows she will never get them back.
She said: "Prior to the burglary I never really thought we would be targeted. We thought our home was safe. Now I constantly think it could happen again every time we go away.
"Throughout the court case, our address has been discussed in the public arena along with the value of the items stolen. The thieves have not only stolen our belongings but, just as importantly, they have stolen our security and privacy."
Stephanie Stokoe said in her victim impact statement that the burglary at her home in Whitburn has had an "enormous impact" on her and her two young daughters. She said: "They left us feeling unsafe in our home and what happened was a violation of our privacy and safety."
Mrs Stokoe added that she lost "irreplaceable" gifts given to her by her recently deceased father. She said she will "never get over" the ordeal and the fact her last physical reminders of her dad were taken while she was still grieving for him.
Mrs Stokoe added that she was a single mother and said her young children were left scared and she said: "My home is where my children and I should feel safe and secure. It should never be a scary place. Our peace, safety and security being taken from us is unacceptable."
Valentino Nikolov was convicted after a trial of conspiracy to burgle and the other three pleaded guilty to it.
Valentino Nikolov, 32, was jailed for ten years, Charlie Jovanovic, 22, was jailed for six years and nine months, Jela Jovanovic, 43, was jailed for seven years and two months and Giacomo Nikolov, 28, was jailed for eight years.
Defence barristers said the quartet were remorseful for the effect their crimes had on victims.
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