Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the crimes

Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in spring 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court was told the group arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they took more than one million pounds of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the foursome to contest burglary but was convicted by the jury

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, wore gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

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

Legal Hearings and Rulings

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

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the sum due".

Eddie Reed
Eddie Reed

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in casino gaming and industry trends.