Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who stole over £1.2m valued of goods, including from former Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £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 six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Burglaries
The court was told the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute thefts.
On 31 March they took over £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.
The following night, the gang broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at more than £100,000.
Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.
Court Hearings and Rulings
Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The other three had no assets or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.
Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating Italy in a sports car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum outstanding".