Alexander Isak Burglars Instructed to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Heists

Burglary suspects
Jela Jovanovic admitted participating in the burglaries

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who took more than £1.2m worth of goods, including from former NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they stole more than one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to contest burglary but was found guilty by the jury

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

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant thieves, wore hand coverings and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewellery valued at £80,000 and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's home

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited 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 was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no assets or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".

Donna Carter
Donna Carter

A seasoned casino strategist with over a decade of experience in slot machine analysis and gaming industry insights.