Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts
Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2m worth of items, among them from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.
The group of four were imprisoned for from a decade or less in 2025.
At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.
Particulars of the Burglaries
The court was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for targets and execute burglaries.
On 31 March they stole over £1m of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.
The following night, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at more than £100,000.
After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant thieves, wore gloves and masks, turned their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".
