Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts
Members of an Italian clan of burglars who stole over £1.2 million valued of items, including from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in spring 2024.
The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The judge was told the gang arrived by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to search for properties and execute thefts.
On March 31 they took more than £1m of goods including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.
The following night, the crew entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The group, who were described by prosecutors as professional itinerant thieves, used gloves and face coverings, switched their phones off as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.
Court Hearings and Rulings
Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.
The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the amount due".