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

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic confessed to participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who stole over £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.

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

The group of four were jailed for from six and 10 years in 2025.

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to scout out properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took over £1m of items including designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to contest the charge but was found guilty by jurors

The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, used gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took cash and jewellery valued at £80,000 and an Audi from footballer Alexander Isak's home

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or owning a home", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the amount due".

Terry Phillips
Terry Phillips

A seasoned gaming journalist and esports analyst with over a decade of experience covering major tournaments and industry trends.