Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million valued of items, including from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

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

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

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the gang arrived by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took more than one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the only one of the foursome to contest the charge but was found guilty by jurors

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as professional itinerant thieves, wore hand coverings and masks, turned their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewelry worth eighty thousand pounds and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's home

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".

Katherine Mcintosh
Katherine Mcintosh

Elara is a seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in international reporting and storytelling.