Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists
Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela 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 from six and 10 years in 2025.
At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The judge previously heard the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for targets and carry out thefts.
On March 31 they stole over £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were away.
The following night, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, jewellery and shoes worth over £100,000.
After scouting out the football club's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.
The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or assets so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".