Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic confessed to their involvement in the burglaries

Members of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they took over £1m of items such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the group to contest burglary but was convicted by jurors

The following night, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, used hand coverings and masks, switched their phones off as they neared their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewelry worth eighty thousand pounds and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak's property

Court Hearings and Rulings

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

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court heard, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

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

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the amount due".

Sandra Gamble
Sandra Gamble

A passionate gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine mechanics and casino industry trends.