Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic admitted their involvement in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who took over £1.2m valued of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

The foursome were jailed for between six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while utilizing another car to search for properties and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they took over £1m of goods including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the foursome to contest burglary but was convicted by the jury

The following night, the crew entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and shoes worth more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and masks, turned their phones on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves took cash and jewellery valued at eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited 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 sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the amount due".

Justin Harrington
Justin Harrington

A creative lifestyle blogger and mindfulness coach sharing practical tips for a balanced life.