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Members of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole over £1.2 million valued of items, including from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The group of four were jailed 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 pay back £1 each while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while using another car to search for properties and carry out burglaries.

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

The next evening, the gang broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional itinerant thieves, used gloves and masks, turned their phones off as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".