Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the crimes

Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, including from former NUFC forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took more than one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the group to deny the charge but was convicted by jurors

The following night, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, wore gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

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

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he defaulted.

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

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "for example operating in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the sum due".

Chad Nichols
Chad Nichols

A tech enthusiast and gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in software development and digital entertainment trends.