Alexander Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists
Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2m worth of items, including from former NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.
Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle three houses in April 2024.
The group of four were imprisoned for from a decade or less in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The judge was told the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for targets and execute thefts.
On March 31 they took more than £1m of goods such as designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.
The following night, the crew entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at over £100,000.
After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.
The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses 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 found to have any money that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.
The other three had no assets or property so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the amount due".
