Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole over £1.2m worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 per person.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.
The foursome were jailed for from a decade or less in 2025.
At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The judge was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute burglaries.
On 31 March they stole over £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.
The next evening, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.
Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.
The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, used gloves and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they approached their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.
The other three had no assets or assets so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.
The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the amount due".