Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic admitted their involvement in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole more than £1.2m worth of items, among them from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.

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

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

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the gang arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On 31 March they took more than £1m of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to contest the charge but was found guilty by jurors

The next evening, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and shoes worth more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the home 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 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took money and jewelry valued at eighty thousand pounds and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's home

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".

Madison Nunez
Madison Nunez

A tech journalist and digital strategist passionate about emerging technologies and their impact on everyday life.