Burglars who targeted Premier League footballers stole £100,000 from Whitburn home | OneFootball

Two burglars who targeted Premier League footballers stole £100,000 of designer goods from a home in Whitburn, and have had extra time added to their sentences at Newcastle Crown Court.

According to Sunderland Echo, Valentino Nikolov, 34, and his nephew Charlie Jovanovic, 24, travelled from Italy to the UK, researched social media and training grounds, then raided the Midlands homes of Neil Etheridge, Mateus Cunha and Leon Bailey in 2023.

The pair used masks, head torches, gloves and chemical spray intended to subdue dogs. Up to £500,00 of designer clothes and jewellery were taken from Cunha’s property and around £15,000 from Etheridge’s. They left Bailey’s address empty-handed after police were alerted by a security system.

They were already jailed for similar break-ins at affluent addresses, including former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak’s mansion in April 2024, where £68,000 of bespoke jewellery and £10,000 in cash were stolen. They also struck a house in Jesmond, Newcastle, removing £one million of high-value clothing, handbags, jewellery and coins. The Whitburn address was on a gated cul-de-sac.

Nikolov is serving a ten year sentence and has been given an extra four years and four months. Jovanovic, currently serving six years and nine months, received a further two years and four months. Both admitted conspiracy to burgle and now face deportation.

Both men have worked hard in custody, have references for good behaviour and have shown remorse.

Source: Sunderland Echo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”