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Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took more than £1.2 million valued of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

The group of four were jailed for from a decade or less in 2025.

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were away.

The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for two days, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and masks, turned their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov 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 Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any money that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the sum due".