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Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who took more than £1.2m worth of items, including from former NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 per person.

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

The foursome were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in 2025.

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

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 "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied 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 criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".