Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted their involvement in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of items, among them from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie travelled to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they stole more than £1m of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

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

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and shoes worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones off as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewellery valued at £80,000 and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's property

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The other three had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the sum due".

Timothy Lloyd
Timothy Lloyd

A passionate nature photographer and storyteller who captures the serene beauty of forests and wildlife through her lens.