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Members of an Italian family of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for between a decade or less in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for targets and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were away.

The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and took luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, turned their phones off as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer Daniel Cordey said each of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

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 police, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no assets or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or possessing a property", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "recover the sum due".