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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole over £1.2 million valued of items, including from former NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

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

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

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Break-ins

The court was told the group came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and execute thefts.

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

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the judge heard, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not paid.

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