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Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2m valued of items, among them from ex- NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

The group of four were jailed for between a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

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

The following night, the gang entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said each of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to make a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount due".