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

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the crimes

Members of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million valued of goods, including from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for between 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 Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they took more than £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the foursome to deny burglary but was found guilty by jurors

The following night, the crew entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their phones off as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewelry valued at eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from footballer Alexander Isak's property

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes 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 only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".

Brittany Morgan
Brittany Morgan

Passionate esports journalist and gaming enthusiast, dedicated to covering the latest trends and updates in the competitive gaming world.