Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists
Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took more than £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.
Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.
The group of four were imprisoned for from a decade or less in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The court was told 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 service service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out burglaries.
On 31 March they stole over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.
The following night, the crew entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.
The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.
The other three had no money or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.
Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".