Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic confessed to their involvement in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took more than £1.2m worth of items, among them from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 each.

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

The group of four were jailed for from six and 10 years in 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the group arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using another car to search for properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole more than one million pounds of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the foursome to deny the charge but was convicted by jurors

The following night, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, turned their phones on silent as they approached their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewellery worth £80,000 and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

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

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the amount outstanding".

Thomas Cuevas
Thomas Cuevas

An avid outdoor enthusiast and travel writer with a passion for exploring Sardinia's natural landscapes and sharing adventure tips.