Isak Burglars Instructed to Pay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2m valued of goods, including from former NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of items including high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the gang broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence 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 prosecutors as professional touring thieves, used gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".