Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.
The group of four were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out thefts.
On 31 March they stole over one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.
The following night, the crew entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth over one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's £120,000 luxury car.
The group, who were described by the prosecution as professional itinerant burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not paid.
Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".
