Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who stole over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her child Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.
The group of four were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.
Details of the Break-ins
The judge was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute thefts.
On March 31 they stole more than one million pounds of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.
The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.
Following surveillance of the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.
Legal Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution 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 Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.
Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the amount due".