Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2m worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.

The group of four were jailed for between six and 10 years in 2025.

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while using another car to scout out targets and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they stole over one million pounds of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and shoes worth over £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and masks, switched their phones off as they approached their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

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

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount outstanding".