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Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the gang came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took over £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices off as they neared their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

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

The other three had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the result if the money was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".