Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Members of an Italy-based family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in spring 2024.
The group of four were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.
At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Burglaries
The judge was told the group arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while using another car to search for properties and execute thefts.
On March 31 they took over £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.
The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not paid.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".
