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Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2m worth of items, including from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for between a decade or less in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the gang arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while utilizing another car to search for targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole over one million pounds of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he defaulted.

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

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum outstanding".