Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists

Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2 million valued of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in April 2024.

The foursome were jailed for between a decade or less in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the gang came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of goods such as designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were away.

The following night, the crew broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used gloves and masks, turned their phones off as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court heard, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum due".