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Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

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

The foursome were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Break-ins

The court was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to search for properties and execute burglaries.

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

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant thieves, used gloves and masks, switched their phones off as they approached their targets 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 Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants 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 Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount due".