Alexander Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists
Individuals of an Italian clan of burglars who stole over £1.2 million worth of goods, including from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.
Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.
The group of four were jailed for between six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing another car to scout out properties and carry out burglaries.
On March 31 they took more than £1m of goods including designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were away.
The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at more than £100,000.
After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, used hand coverings and masks, switched their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, 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 the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The other three had no assets or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not paid.
Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum due".