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Members of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2m worth of goods, among them from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were jailed for from a decade or less in 2025.

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard 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 rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole over one million pounds of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

The following night, the crew entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his family members had all entered admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the only one found to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the court heard, 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 make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum outstanding".