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Members of an Italian family of burglars who stole over £1.2 million valued of items, among them from former NUFC forward Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.

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

The foursome were imprisoned for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge previously heard the gang arrived by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they stole over £1m of items including designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes valued at more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the player's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and masks, turned their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Rulings

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

At the criminal gains session, lawyer the prosecution said each of the defendants 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 Jovanovic was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge heard, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

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

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum outstanding".