Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Thefts

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who stole over £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 each while Charlie must pay over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.

The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were directed to make a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the sum outstanding".