Alexander Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Heists
Members of an Italian family of burglars who took over £1.2m worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.
The foursome were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service rest stops while using another car to search for properties and carry out burglaries.
On March 31 they stole more than one million pounds of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.
The following night, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth over £100,000.
After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Court Hearings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary 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 each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.
The other three had no assets or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not paid.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".