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

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who stole over £1.2m valued of goods, among them from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they stole more than £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the group to deny the charge but was convicted by jurors

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewelry worth £80,000 and an car from footballer Alexander Isak's property

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no assets or property so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".

Eric Mitchell
Eric Mitchell

A former casino dealer turned gaming analyst, specializing in slot machine mechanics and player psychology.