Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic confessed to their involvement in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who stole over £1.2 million valued of items, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

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

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

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

Details of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using another car to scout out properties and carry out thefts.

On March 31 they stole over one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the group to deny the charge but was convicted by the jury

The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took money and jewellery worth eighty thousand pounds and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's property

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to 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 proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found 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 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "recover the sum due".

Barbara Escobar
Barbara Escobar

A seasoned mountaineer and outdoor writer with over a decade of experience exploring peaks across Europe and documenting sustainable hiking practices.