🔗 Share this article

Members of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole more than £1.2m valued of items, including from former NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for from a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the group came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for properties and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The following night, the crew broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, wore gloves and masks, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

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

At the criminal gains session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

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

The other three had no money or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the money was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".