Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Heists

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic confessed to participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who stole over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in May 2025.

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

Particulars of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they stole more than £1m of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the foursome to deny burglary but was convicted by jurors

The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant burglars, used gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves took money and jewellery worth £80,000 and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's home

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount due".

Lisa Saunders
Lisa Saunders

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino trends and slot game mechanics, dedicated to helping players make informed decisions.