Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the crimes

Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in April 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using another car to search for targets and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the group to deny burglary but was found guilty by the jury

The following night, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves took cash and jewelry valued at eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from footballer Isak's property

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".

Martin Compton
Martin Compton

A seasoned casino strategist with over a decade of experience in gaming analysis and player psychology.