Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2m valued of items, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took over £1m of goods including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones off as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

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

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

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the court heard, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or assets so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount outstanding".