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Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and masks, turned their phones off as they neared their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the amount outstanding".