Isak Burglars Instructed to Pay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 per person.
Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.
The foursome were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in 2025.
At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The judge previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to search for properties and execute thefts.
On March 31 they stole more than £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.
The following night, the gang entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and shoes worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.
Legal Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.
The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.
Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount due".
