A gang of organised burglars who once targeted former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak managed to steal an astonishing £1.2 million in luxury goods, yet the court has ruled they will pay back only £1,100.
The four offenders, all Italian nationals, were jailed earlier this year after carrying out three high-value burglaries across the North East. Despite the scale of their crimes, a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing has now revealed that almost none of the money or valuables they stole can be recovered.
The group Valentino Nikolov, Charlie Jovanovic, Jela Jovanovic and Giacomo Nikolov were sent to prison for more than 30 years combined after investigators proved they had been operating as a highly organised criminal unit.
Their planning was so detailed that they even spent hours near Newcastle United’s Benton training ground, watching Isak’s routine and noting when he left for training and returned home. When police eventually arrested them, they found photos of the Swedish striker on one of the gang’s phones, confirming they had studied him closely before striking.
The gang’s crimes also included a raid on the home of well-known Newcastle charity leader Helen McArdle, making the case even more shocking for the community. All four were convicted of conspiracy to burgle, with Jela Jovanovic acting as the driver during each break-in while the other three men carried out the searches inside the targeted homes.
At their recent proceeds hearing, prosecutor Dan Cordey told the court that the small amount of cash recovered just £1,135.50 was the only available asset linked to the group. With the total benefit of their crimes calculated at £1,266,285.93, the judge ordered Charlie Jovanovic to hand over the seized money.
The remaining three gang members were ordered to pay just £1 each because they had no assets to their names. However, the court noted that if any of them come into significant money in the future, authorities can revisit the order and demand repayment.
During the original trial, prosecutors laid out the gang’s methodical planning and professional approach. Cordey explained that the burglars travelled from Italy specifically to target high-value British homes.
They researched wealthy neighbourhoods, designer brands and expensive property, and showed a clear interest in luxury items such as jewellery, watches and handbags. Their behaviour near the Newcastle training ground during the days before the Isak burglary was highlighted as key proof of the group’s surveillance efforts.
Cordey also described how the gang took steps to avoid being tracked, including swapping number plates, turning off phones, and wearing gloves and masks to prevent leaving DNA. Police said their awareness of forensic tactics made the investigation more challenging.
The gang’s first break-in happened on March 31, 2024, at the home of Helen and Michael McArdle in Jesmond. The couple were away on holiday, and the burglars forced entry through a first-floor patio window.
Inside, they carried out a messy search, taking a safe containing a CBE medal, gold coins, designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and high-end watches. The total value of items stolen from the McArdle property was more than £1 million.
The next burglary took place on April 1 at the home of a single mother in Whitburn, South Tyneside. She returned from a trip with her children to find her house ransacked, clothes thrown everywhere, and hundreds of items missing. The thieves stole designer shoes, jewellery and handbags worth over £100,000.
On April 4, the gang moved on to Alexander Isak’s home in Darras Hall. He had been away from the property between 4pm and 10pm and returned to find signs of forced entry, including a smashed door.
Once inside, the burglars stole up to £10,000 in cash and jewellery worth around £68,000. They also took the keys to his Audi, which was later found damaged and abandoned.
CCTV footage from Isak’s “dog cam” recorded the gang inside his living room, revealing one member wearing distinctive PSG tracksuit bottoms that helped officers identify him.
Photos of Isak taken the day after the burglary were discovered on a seized phone, further showing how much interest the group had taken in him.
Judge Robert Spragg said the gang had clearly carried out detailed research and were part of an organised criminal family group. He described their crimes as sophisticated, targeted and highly planned.
While the issue of deportation will be handled by the Home Office, all four offenders received lengthy sentences. Valentino Nikolov was jailed for ten years, Charlie Jovanovic for six years and nine months, Jela Jovanovic for seven years and two months, and Giacomo Nikolov for eight years.
Despite the value of what they stole, the court’s ruling means the victims are unlikely to ever see their missing property returned or compensated in full, leaving a long shadow over the case.
