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Members of an Italy-based clan of thieves who stole over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The group of four were imprisoned for from a decade or less in 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang came by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to search for targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they took more than one million pounds of goods including high-end fashion, purses, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The following night, the gang broke into a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery 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 residence of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

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

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the only one found to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate further action to "satisfy the amount due".