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Members of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from former NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the gang came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took more than one million pounds of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the owners were away.

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the sum was not paid.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "recover the amount outstanding".