Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Just £1 Per Person from £1.2m Thefts
Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2m valued of items, among them from former NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.
Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in April 2024.
The foursome were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in May 2025.
At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.
Details of the Burglaries
The judge previously heard the gang arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to search for targets and execute thefts.
On March 31 they stole more than £1m of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.
The following night, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth over one hundred thousand pounds.
After scouting out the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.
The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.
They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.
But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.
The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the amount due".