Alexander Isak Burglars Instructed to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2m Heists

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic admitted participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole over £1.2 million valued of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 per person.

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

The group of four were imprisoned for from a decade or less in 2025.

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

Details of the Break-ins

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

On March 31 they stole over one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to deny the charge but was found guilty by the jury

The following night, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewellery valued at £80,000 and an car from footballer Alexander Isak's home

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic 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 heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".

Ryan Cummings
Ryan Cummings

A seasoned journalist with a passion for uncovering stories that shape Las Vegas, bringing over a decade of experience in local news reporting.