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Members of an Italian clan of thieves who took over £1.2m valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie must pay over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat 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 a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

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

The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant thieves, wore hand coverings and masks, turned their phones off as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the only one found to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £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 remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the amount outstanding".