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Individuals of an Italian clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

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

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

Details of the Burglaries

The court was told the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of goods including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, used gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served 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 seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the amount due".