Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists
Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2m valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.
The group of four were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.
Details of the Burglaries
The court was told the group came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out burglaries.
On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were away.
The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at more than £100,000.
After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.
The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the judge heard, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.
Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".