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

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2m worth of items, including from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The court was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out targets and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took more than one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the only one of the group to contest the charge but was convicted by jurors

The following night, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth more than £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, wore gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves took money and jewelry valued at £80,000 and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's property

Legal Hearings and Rulings

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

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, 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, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "recover the sum outstanding".

Michael Taylor
Michael Taylor

A technology strategist with over a decade of experience in digital innovation and business transformation across European markets.