Isak Burglars Instructed to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts
Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who stole over £1.2m valued of goods, including from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.
The foursome were jailed for between six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The court previously heard the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while utilizing another car to search for properties and carry out thefts.
On 31 March they stole more than £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were away.
The following night, the gang broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were described by the prosecution as professional itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Court Hearings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he defaulted.
The other three had no money or assets so were directed to make a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not paid.
Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".
