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Members of an Italian clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie travelled to the northeastern of England to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the group arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for properties and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the gang entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, used hand coverings and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer the prosecution said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".