Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of items, among them from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the north-east of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the gang came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they took more than one million pounds of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no assets or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "for example driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum due".