🔗 Share this article

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of items including designer clothing, purses, 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, and stole designer handbags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and masks, turned their phones off as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

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 same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

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

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount outstanding".