Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic admitted their involvement in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took more than £1.2m worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

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

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for targets and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of items including designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to contest 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, jewellery and shoes valued at more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took money and jewelry worth eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from footballer Alexander Isak's property

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no assets or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".

Sandra Ortiz
Sandra Ortiz

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