Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists
Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, including from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in April 2024.
The foursome were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.
At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must pay over a thousand pounds.
Details of the Break-ins
The judge was told the group arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute burglaries.
On 31 March they stole more than £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.
The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over £100,000.
Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.
They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.
At the criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in prison if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.
Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount due".