Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Heists
Members of an Italy-based family of thieves who took over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic 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 the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The court previously heard the group arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for targets and carry out burglaries.
On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.
The following night, the crew broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes worth more than £100,000.
After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.
The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and masks, turned their phones off as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.
Legal Hearings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.
At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not paid.
The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".