Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Heists
Members of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.
The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Details of the Burglaries
The judge was told the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service rest stops while utilizing another car to search for properties and execute thefts.
On March 31 they stole more than £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.
The next evening, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.
Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, used gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.
They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.
Legal Hearings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.
At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the only one found to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.
The other three had no money or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not paid.
Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the amount outstanding".