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Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million worth of items, including from former Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 per person.

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

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

At a criminal assets hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the group arrived by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their phones off as they approached their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered 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 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 over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the court heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

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

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the amount due".