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

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic confessed to participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of items, including from former NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

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

On March 31 they took over one million pounds of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the group to deny burglary but was convicted by the jury

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for two days, they then struck at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license 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 area on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole money and jewelry valued at £80,000 and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the amount due".

Charles Cisneros
Charles Cisneros

A seasoned business strategist with over a decade of experience in finance and entrepreneurship, known for practical insights on growth and innovation.