Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole over £1.2 million valued of items, among them from former NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for between a decade or less in 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the group to deny the charge but was found guilty by jurors

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones off as they approached their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewellery worth eighty thousand pounds and an car from footballer Isak's home

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".

Janice White
Janice White

Mason Reed is a gaming enthusiast and tech expert specializing in Minecraft server optimization and community management.

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