Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Thefts
Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of items, including from former NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 per person.
Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.
The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.
Details of the Break-ins
The judge previously heard the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute thefts.
On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of goods including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.
The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at over £100,000.
Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.
Legal Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.
Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount due".