Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts
Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 each.
Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.
The foursome were jailed for between a decade or less in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.
On March 31 they stole more than one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were away.
The next evening, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at over £100,000.
After scouting out the football club's facility for two days, they then struck at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and masks, turned their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.
Legal Hearings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court heard, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not paid.
Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the amount due".