Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Members of an Italian family of burglars who stole over £1.2 million valued of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.
The group of four were imprisoned for from a decade or less in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Burglaries
The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing another car to scout out properties and carry out thefts.
On 31 March they took over £1m of goods including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.
The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.
The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.
Legal Hearings and Rulings
Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, 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 "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 defaulted.
The other three had no money or assets so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".