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Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million valued of items, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.

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

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

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

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On 31 March they took over £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their phones off as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer the prosecution said each of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or assets so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".