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Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, including from former Newcastle United striker Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle multiple homes in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Burglaries

The judge previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 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 search for properties and carry out thefts.

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

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".