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Members of an Italian family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of items, including from former Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

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

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Details of the Break-ins

The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for properties and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were away.

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, jewellery and shoes worth over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, wore gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop 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 denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

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

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "for example operating in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".