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Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who stole over £1.2m valued of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to search for targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole more than £1m of goods including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were on holiday.

The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, used gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

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

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the defendants had profited 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 found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the amount outstanding".