🔗 Share this article

Members of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court was told the gang arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using another car to search for targets and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant thieves, wore hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one 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 was the only one found to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no assets or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

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 initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".