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Members of an Italy-based family of thieves who took more than £1.2m valued of items, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The court was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole over one million pounds of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out the football club's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, used gloves and masks, turned their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the amount outstanding".