Isak Burglars Instructed to Pay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic confessed to participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took more than £1.2 million worth of items, including from ex- NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took over £1m of goods including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the sole member of the foursome to contest burglary but was found guilty by the jury

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out the football club's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, used gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewelry worth £80,000 and an Audi from footballer 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 three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".

Rodney Knox
Rodney Knox

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot machine mechanics and player psychology.