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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

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

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they took over one million pounds of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The next evening, the crew entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as professional itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices 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 April 13.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one found to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "for example driving around in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount due".