Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists
Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.
The foursome were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie must pay £1,135.
Details of the Break-ins
The court previously heard the gang arrived by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute thefts.
On March 31 they took over one million pounds of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.
The next evening, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.
Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their phones off as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Court Hearings and Sentencing
Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, 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 £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in prison if he defaulted.
The other three had no assets or assets so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the money was not paid.
Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount due".