Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who stole over £1.2m valued of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must pay over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Break-ins

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 rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took over one million pounds of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the group to contest the charge but was found guilty by the jury

The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring thieves, used gloves and masks, switched their phones off as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took money and jewelry worth £80,000 and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov 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 the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the judge was informed, 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 one week in incarceration the result if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the sum outstanding".

Nicole Robertson
Nicole Robertson

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in casino reviews and strategy development.