Alexander Isak Robbers Instructed to Pay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Giacomo Nikolov confessed to their involvement in the crimes

Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took more than £1.2m worth of items, including from former Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.

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

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to contest burglary but was found guilty by the jury

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the home of Swedish striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, wore gloves and masks, turned their phones off as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole money and jewellery valued at eighty thousand pounds and an Audi from then-Newcastle United striker Isak's property

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the sum outstanding".

Michael Hicks
Michael Hicks

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot game mechanics and player psychology.