Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists

Members of an Italian family of burglars who stole more than £1.2m worth of items, among them from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Details of the Break-ins

The judge was told the group came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

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

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

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

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".