Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the crimes

Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million valued of items, including from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

The group of four were jailed for between a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie must pay over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Burglaries

The court was told the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service rest stops while utilizing another car to search for properties and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they took over £1m of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the group to contest the charge but was convicted by the jury

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, turned their phones off as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars took cash and jewelry worth eighty thousand pounds and an car from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's home

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

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

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the sum due".

William Rodgers
William Rodgers

Tech journalist and gaming enthusiast with over a decade of experience covering industry trends and innovations.