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Two members of an organised burglary gang who targeted Premier League footballers while they were away playing have been handed additional prison sentences.
Valentino Nikolov, 34, and his nephew Charlie Jovanovic, 24, travelled from Italy to Britain before researching wealthy footballers through social media and visits to training grounds.
The pair targeted the homes of former Birmingham City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, Matheus Cunha and Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey during a series of raids in late 2023.
Footballers targeted during away matches
Newcastle Crown Court heard the gang carefully planned the burglaries and used masks, gloves, head torches and chemical spray against dogs at some of the properties.
Etheridge’s home was targeted on December 26, 2023, while he was away playing for Birmingham City. His wife, who was also out, was alerted after an internal baby monitor showed a person inside the house.
The burglars escaped with designer clothing, a Rolex watch and jewellery worth around £15,000.
Prosecutor Anne Richardson said: “They targeted wealthy, professional footballers in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
“Each was professionally planned by this organised crime group, who travelled from Italy with this specific purpose.”
Cunha was also targeted while playing away for Wolverhampton Wanderers. His wife later returned home to discover one of their dogs outside and between £350,000 and £500,000 worth of designer clothing, handbags and jewellery missing.
Bailey’s home was targeted on New Year’s Eve while he was away with Aston Villa, but his security system alerted police to two masked men attempting to enter. The burglars left without taking anything.
Isak mansion raid linked to the pair
The court heard Nikolov and Jovanovic were already serving prison sentences for similar offences, including a raid on Alexander Isak’s Newcastle home in April 2024.
Around £68,000 worth of bespoke jewellery and £10,000 in cash were stolen during that burglary.
Jovanovic, already serving six years and nine months, received an additional two years and four months. Nikolov, who was serving a 10-year sentence, was given a further four years and four months.
Both men admitted conspiracy to burgle and now face deportation.
Judge Robert Spragg said the pair had travelled to Britain specifically to commit the offences.
“You had clearly carefully researched and targeted your victims. These were sophisticated and planned offences with gloves, torches, disguises and spray for dogs,” he said.
The judge added that police had worked with Italian authorities to connect the pair to other raids, warning that offenders who travelled to Britain to commit similar crimes would be caught and prosecuted.