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Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.

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

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court was told the group arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of goods including designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Rulings

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

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in prison the result if the money was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "for example operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount due".