Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who stole more than £1.2m valued of items, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.
The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The judge previously heard the group came by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service rest stops while using another car to scout out targets and carry out thefts.
On 31 March they stole over £1m of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.
The following night, the crew entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out the football club's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, wore gloves and masks, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Court Hearings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the money was not submitted.
The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount outstanding".
