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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie travelled to the north-east of the UK to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge was told the gang arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took over £1m of items such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their phones off as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted 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 each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one found to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the court heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

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

The judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".