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THE NEWCASTLE UNITED STAR WAS NOT AT HOME IN DARRAS HALL WHEN THE GANG STOLE HIS CAR AND JEWELLERY AND CASH WORTH UP TO £78,000 15:47, 05 Mar 2025 Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak was

targeted by a "professional group of travelling burglars" who broke into his home and stole his car, jewellery worth £68,000 and up to £10,000 in cash, a court heard. The Sweden

international was not in his house in Darras Hall, Northumberland, when the gang broke in through a glass door last April, Newcastle Crown Court heard. They were caught on a "doggy

cam" and one of them was wearing distinctive tracksuit bottoms with a PSG football club logo on them. Jurors at Newcastle Crown Court heard the thieves had already targeted the home of

businesswoman Helen McArdle and her husband in Jesmond, stealing jewellery and clothes worth more than £1 million and stole designer goods worth £100,000 from a woman's home in

Whitburn. Three members of the same family, who had been living in Italy, have admitted conspiracy to commit burglary, the court heard. A fourth family member, Valentino Nikolov, 32, denies

the charge and is standing trial. Dan Cordey, prosecuting, said Isak left his home between 4pm and 10pm on April 4 last year and he discovered the break-in when he returned. Mr Cordey told

jurors: "The burglary was discovered when the occupier returned at 10pm and found his bins had been moved and entry had been gained by smashing a glass door leading from the back of the

property to the TV room. Inside, an untidy search had taken place and cash to the value of between £5,000 to £10,000 had been stolen together with jewellery valued at about £68,000. “A

Dudley safe left by the previous occupant was also taken from the property. No doubt those who took it hoped it would contain valuable property. As it turns out, it didn’t. Article continues

below “The keys to Mr Isak’s Audi motor vehicle had also been stolen and used to steal the car. It was found abandoned after a report from a member of the public who called the police at

9.35 that night." Keep up to date with all the latest court news from the North East with our free newsletter CCTV, described as a “doggy cam", was recovered from the property. It

showed three males in the living room of the house at 8:29pm. Mr Cordey said: "One of those males the prosecution says can be identified as Giacomo Nikolov, wearing distinctive

tracksuit bottoms with a PSG logo, football club logo, on the right leg." The gang arrived in the UK via a ferry from Calais to Dover in a Citroen C3 and a Ford motorhome last March.

They headed to London, then drove to the North East a few days later, the court heard. The gang used the Citroen to travel to break-ins and the motorhome was a base where they slept, the

prosecution say. Mr Cordey said the Citroen car was pulled over in the Walsall area on April 13 and he said Valentino Nikolov was the driver. His mobile phone was seized and on it was found

images of the inside of the motorhome together with images of an Yves Saint Laurent handbag, the prosecutor added. He said: “The image of the handbag was taken at 4:26pm on 4th April 2024.

The handbag has been identified as being stolen during the Jesmond burglary and belongs to Mrs McCardle. In particular she was able to identify it by a gold “H” for Helen attached to the

bag. Also on the phone were numerous pictures of other designer watches and handbags." The court heard Giacomo Nikolov was the rear nearside passenger and he was wearing a Silver Rolex,

which has been identified as stolen from the burglary in Jesmond. Mr Cordey added: “Jela Jovanovic was the front seat passenger. Her mobile phone was seized. On it were found images of

designer watches, the Citroen C3 registration plate, the Ford motorhome showing its registration plate, views of Durham City, and a video forwarded to her on April 8 showing Valentino

Nikolov counting money out on a table. Giacomo Nikolov can be seen in the background. “Also found on the phone were various images of Mr Isak playing football created on April 5 2024.”

Charlie Jovanovic was the rear offside passenger. Mr Cordey said: “The prosecution case is you can be sure that this defendant (Valentino Nikolov) was one of the burglars and part of the

conspiracy to commit those burglaries. This was a professional group of travelling burglars consisting of one female and three men - two of those men and one female have admitted their part

- the prosecution say there is no other candidate for the final man other than Valentino Nikolov.” Nikolov, of Tew Park Road, Birmingham, is representing himself at the trial and requires an

Italian interpreter. Jurors have been told his brother Giacomo Nikolov, 28, his sister Jela Jovanovic, 43, and her son Charlie Jovanovic, 23, who all reside in Italy, have admitted

conspiracy to commit burglary. Safet Ramic, who is the 58-year-old father of Valentino Nikolov's former partner, and who is from Winson Street, Birmingham, denies handling stolen goods.

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