Isak Burglars Instructed to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists
Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million valued of items, including from ex- NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.
Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie travelled to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in April 2024.
The foursome were imprisoned for between a decade or less in May 2025.
At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Burglaries
The court was told the group arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service stations while using another car to search for properties and carry out burglaries.
On 31 March they took more than one million pounds of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.
The following night, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over £100,000.
After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, used gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the sum outstanding".