🔗 Share this article

Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million valued of items, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the north-east of the UK to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The court was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while using another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they took more than £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes worth over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they approached their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value 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 police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

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

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "recover the sum outstanding".