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Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who took over £1.2m valued of goods, among them from former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 per person.

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

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

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge was told the group came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they took more than £1m of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, 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 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or property so were ordered to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the sum outstanding".