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Members of an Italian clan of burglars who took more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 per person.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her child Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for from 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 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they took more than one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one 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 jail if he failed to pay.

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

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the sum outstanding".