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Members of an Italian clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 each while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing another car to search for properties and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The following night, the gang entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, used gloves and face coverings, switched their phones off as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example driving around Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the amount due".