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

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Break-ins

The judge was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took over one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

The following night, the crew entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took luxury bags, 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 residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional itinerant thieves, used gloves and masks, switched their phones off as they approached their objectives and attached 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 on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the money was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "recover the sum due".