Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Members of an Italian clan of burglars who stole over £1.2m worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for between a decade or less 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 must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the gang came by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while using another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took over £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their phones off as they neared their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the result if the money was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "for example driving around in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the amount due".