Alexander Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic confessed to participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2m worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court was told the group arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took over one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house 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 found guilty by jurors

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out the football club's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, wore gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took money and jewelry valued at eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from footballer Alexander Isak's home

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

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

Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "recover the sum outstanding".

Christina Simmons
Christina Simmons

A seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in investigative reporting and political analysis, focusing on European affairs.