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Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who took over £1.2m worth of goods, among them from former Newcastle United forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her child Charlie travelled 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 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at a service area and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The following night, the crew entered a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and shoes valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, switched their phones 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 vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

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

At the criminal gains session, lawyer the prosecution said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".