Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic confessed to their involvement in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from former NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie travelled to the north-east of England to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took over one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

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

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves took money and jewellery worth £80,000 and an car from footballer Isak's home

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or assets so were directed to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.

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

Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in online casino reviews and player strategy development.