Isak Robbers Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2m Thefts
Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2m valued of items, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.
Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in spring 2024.
The group of four were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in 2025.
At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.
Details of the Break-ins
The court previously heard the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.
On March 31 they took over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.
The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables 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 Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.
The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.
They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.
Legal Hearings and Rulings
Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.
At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.
But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.
The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.
The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".