Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic admitted their involvement in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million worth of items, including from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her child Charlie travelled to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in April 2024.

The group of four were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Details of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using another car to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On March 31 they took more than £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino was the only one of the group to deny burglary but was convicted by jurors

The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, wore gloves and masks, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Alexander Isak's home
Thieves stole cash and jewelry valued at £80,000 and an car from footballer Isak's property

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the sum outstanding".

Michael Thomas
Michael Thomas

A tech journalist and innovation strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and their impact on global markets.