Alexander Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Heists
Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who stole over £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.
Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of the UK to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.
The foursome were jailed for between six and 10 years in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.
Particulars of the Burglaries
The court previously heard the gang arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing another car to scout out properties and carry out burglaries.
On March 31 they stole over one million pounds of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were away.
The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth over one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 luxury car.
The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, wore gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Legal Hearings and Sentencing
Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount outstanding".