Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2m worth of items, among them from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle three houses in April 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 each while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service rest stops while using another car to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took more than £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their phones off as they approached their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the sum due".