Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts
Members of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.
Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.
The foursome were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The court was told the group arrived by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute burglaries.
On 31 March they took over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.
The following night, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The group, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, used gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor 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 Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not submitted.
Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".