Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic admitted participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.

The group of four were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out properties and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to contest the charge but was convicted by the jury

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, used hand coverings and masks, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewellery worth eighty thousand pounds and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", namely 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 failed to pay.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the money was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the amount due".

Timothy Wright
Timothy Wright

An avid traveler and journalist with a passion for uncovering unique stories from diverse cultures and regions.