Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists
Members of an Italian family of burglars who stole over £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.
The foursome were jailed for between six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.
Particulars of the Burglaries
The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while utilizing another car to search for targets and carry out thefts.
On March 31 they took over £1m of items including designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.
The following night, the crew entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.
Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 luxury car.
The group, who were described by the prosecution as professional itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Legal Hearings and Sentencing
Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no assets or assets so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the money was not paid.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount outstanding".