Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2 million valued of items, including from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.

The group of four were jailed for from six and 10 years in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the group came 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 scout out properties and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the group to contest the charge but was found guilty by the jury

The following night, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and shoes worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewellery valued at £80,000 and an car from footballer Alexander Isak's property

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "for example driving around in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the amount due".

Amanda Booth
Amanda Booth

Elara Vance is a seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in jackpot strategies and player insights.