Isak Robbers Ordered to Pay Only £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Heists
Members of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 per person.
Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.
The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.
Particulars of the Burglaries
The judge previously heard the group arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute burglaries.
On 31 March they took more than £1m of items including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.
The following night, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over £100,000.
After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, turned their phones on silent as they approached their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.
At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.
But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not submitted.
The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".