Isak Burglars Ordered to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

The group of four were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Break-ins

The court was told the group arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they took more than £1m of goods such as designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the crew entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the sum due".