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

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic admitted their involvement in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2m valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court was told the gang arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took over one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the only one of the foursome to contest burglary but was found guilty by jurors

The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, used hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole money and jewellery worth £80,000 and an car from footballer Alexander Isak's property

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".

Amanda Trujillo
Amanda Trujillo

A seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine mechanics and player psychology.