Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts

Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for between six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for properties and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they stole over one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each 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 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 authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or assets so were directed to make a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the amount outstanding".