Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts
Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 per person.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.
The foursome were imprisoned for between a decade or less in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.
On 31 March they took over one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.
The following night, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes worth over £100,000.
Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Legal Hearings and Sentencing
Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the money was not submitted.
Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".
