🔗 Share this article

Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole over £1.2m valued of items, including from former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 per person.

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

The foursome were jailed for between six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge was told the group arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the crew broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, used gloves and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.

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