Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Members of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took over £1.2m worth of items, including from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned 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 pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the gang arrived by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while using another car to search for properties and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of goods such as designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount due".