Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov admitted participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2m worth of items, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The judge was told the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to contest the charge but was found guilty by jurors

The following night, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested 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 home

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

The other three had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the result if the sum was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the sum outstanding".

Christopher Foster
Christopher Foster

Elara is a design enthusiast and cultural commentator with a passion for minimalist aesthetics and sustainable innovations.