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Members of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2 million worth of goods, including from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they took more than £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, wore gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was convicted 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 offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the money was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property 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 "recover the amount due".