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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

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

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

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

Particulars of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the group arrived by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

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

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear worth more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, 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 token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the amount outstanding".