Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic admitted participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in spring 2024.

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

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they took over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery 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 contest the charge but was convicted by jurors

The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, valuables and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones off as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewelry worth £80,000 and an car from footballer Alexander Isak's property

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie 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 jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration 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 sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the sum due".

Brianna Garcia
Brianna Garcia

Wildlife biologist with a focus on sloth ecology, passionate about conservation and environmental education.