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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

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

The foursome were jailed for between a decade or less in May 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took over £1m of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant burglars, used gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Court Hearings and Rulings

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

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.

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

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount outstanding".