Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who stole over £1.2m valued of items, among them from former NUFC forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

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

The foursome were imprisoned 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 pay over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using another car to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they took more than £1m of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the group to deny the charge but was found guilty by the jury

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used gloves and masks, turned their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole money and jewellery worth eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from footballer Alexander Isak's property

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".

Sabrina Douglas
Sabrina Douglas

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