Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the burglaries

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

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The group of four were jailed for between 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 hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service stations while using another car to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On 31 March they took more than one million pounds of goods including designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the group to contest burglary but was found guilty by the jury

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, used gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices off as they neared their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

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

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the sum outstanding".

Robin Watts
Robin Watts

A seasoned slot gaming expert with over a decade of experience in casino strategy and game analysis.