Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists

Members of an Italian family of burglars who took over £1.2m valued of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

The foursome were jailed for between a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Break-ins

The court was told the group came by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for properties and carry out thefts.

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

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth more than £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant thieves, used gloves and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they approached their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

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

But Charlie was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or property so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the sum outstanding".