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Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took more than £1.2m valued of items, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

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

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang arrived by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the gang entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

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

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said each of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

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

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the sum outstanding".