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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2m worth of items, including from former NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

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

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using another car to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they stole more than one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the crew entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer the prosecution said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

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

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".