Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who stole over £1.2m valued of goods, including from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.
The foursome were jailed for between six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.
Details of the Break-ins
The judge previously heard the group came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute burglaries.
On March 31 they stole over one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.
The next evening, the crew entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.
Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.
They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.
The other three had no money or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not paid.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum due".