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

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

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

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the only one of the foursome to contest the charge but was found guilty by the jury

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional itinerant thieves, used gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewellery valued at eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's home

Legal Hearings and Rulings

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

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

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

The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount outstanding".

Amber Klein
Amber Klein

Wildlife biologist and conservationist with over a decade of experience studying sloths in Central America.