Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2m valued of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle three houses in April 2024.
The group of four were jailed for between a decade or less in 2025.
At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.
Details of the Break-ins
The judge previously heard the gang 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 utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.
On 31 March they stole over £1m of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.
The following night, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.
Following surveillance of the football club's facility for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's £120,000 luxury car.
The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, used hand coverings and masks, turned their phones off as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The other three had no assets or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not paid.
The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the sum due".