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

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the burglaries

Members of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, including from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the group arrived by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using another car to scout out targets and carry out thefts.

On March 31 they took more than £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the foursome to contest burglary but was convicted by the jury

The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for two days, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewellery worth £80,000 and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's home

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example operating in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".

Christopher Mejia
Christopher Mejia

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