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Members of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2m worth of items, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back only £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

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

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV 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 stole more than one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional itinerant burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and attached a number 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 Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains 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 based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "for example operating in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the sum due".