Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts
Members of an Italian family of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.
Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid multiple homes in April 2024.
The group of four were imprisoned for between a decade or less in 2025.
At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.
Details of the Burglaries
The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out thefts.
On 31 March they took over £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.
The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth over £100,000.
After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.
Legal Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the same charge.
At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the judge heard, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The other three had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not paid.
Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount due".