Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took more than £1.2m valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the group came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they stole over one million pounds of goods including designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the crew broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, wore hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones off as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the amount outstanding".