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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2m worth of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her child Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding 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.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the group arrived by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took more than one million pounds of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The following night, the crew broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

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

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "recovered", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".