Alexander Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Heists

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole over £1.2m valued of items, including from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 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 and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court was told the gang came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to search for properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took over one million pounds of items including designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no assets or assets so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the amount due".