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Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2 million worth of items, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 per person.

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 foursome were jailed for between six and 10 years in 2025.

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

Particulars of the Burglaries

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

On March 31 they stole over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

The following night, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewelry and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant burglars, wore gloves and masks, switched their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "recover the sum due".