Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic admitted participating in the burglaries

Members of an Italian clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

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

The group of four were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court was told the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using another car to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole more than one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to deny the charge but was found guilty by jurors

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, wore gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

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

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov 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 benefited 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 Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge 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 pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum outstanding".

Wendy Salazar
Wendy Salazar

A gaming industry analyst with over a decade of experience in casino operations and slot machine technology.