Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists
Individuals of an Italian clan of burglars who stole over £1.2m worth of goods, among them from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of England to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.
The group of four were imprisoned for between a decade or less in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The judge previously heard the group arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using another car to search for properties and execute burglaries.
On 31 March they took over one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry 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 house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, wore gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited 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 Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.
The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum outstanding".
