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Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole over £1.2 million worth of items, including from ex- NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie travelled to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and carry out thefts.

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 owners were away.

The next evening, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, 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 Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring thieves, used gloves and masks, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited 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 Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "recover the amount due".