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

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took more than one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the group to contest the charge but was found guilty by jurors

The next evening, the crew entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and attached a license 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.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewellery worth eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's home

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov 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 criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".

Lisa Cook
Lisa Cook

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