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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

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

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the group came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service rest stops while using another car to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.

On March 31 they took more than one million pounds of goods including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used gloves and masks, switched their phones off as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge heard, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

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

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the amount due".