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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took over £1.2m valued of items, including from former NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for from a decade or less in 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing 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.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the group arrived by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using another car to search for properties and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took over £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the amount outstanding".