Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Just £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts
Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2m worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.
Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.
The group of four were jailed for from a decade or less in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 each while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Particulars of the Break-ins
The court was told the gang arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out thefts.
On 31 March they stole over £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.
The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at more than £100,000.
Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Court Proceedings and Rulings
Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.
At the criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie was the only one found to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court heard, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.
The other three had no money or assets so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the money was not paid.
Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".