Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic confessed to their involvement in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.

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

The foursome were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group came by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they stole more than £1m of goods including designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

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

The following night, the crew entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, wore gloves and masks, switched their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves took money and jewellery worth eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's property

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount due".

Jennifer Hale
Jennifer Hale

A certified skincare specialist and wellness coach with over a decade of experience in beauty and holistic health.