Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole more than £1.2m worth of items, including from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 per person.

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

The foursome were imprisoned for from a decade or less in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £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 campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while using another car to search for targets and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they took over one million pounds of goods including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the group to deny the charge but was convicted by jurors

The following night, the gang broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, wore gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole cash and jewelry valued at £80,000 and an car from footballer Alexander Isak's home

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the amount outstanding".

James Simpson
James Simpson

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their impact on daily life.