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Members of an Italy-based family of thieves who stole over £1.2 million valued of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

At a criminal assets proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge was told the gang arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to search for properties and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole over one million pounds of items including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, wore gloves and masks, turned their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution 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 lost.

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

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", prosecutors could initiate further action to "recover the sum due".