Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2m valued of items, among them from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of England to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge was told the group came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they stole over one million pounds of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to deny burglary but was found guilty by the jury

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

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

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

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

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the amount outstanding".

Janice Ward
Janice Ward

A seasoned travel writer and cultural critic with over a decade of experience exploring global destinations and luxury trends.