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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took over £1.2m valued of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of England to raid multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court was told the group came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham rest stops while using another car to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of items such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang entered a home on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring burglars, used hand coverings and masks, switched their mobile devices on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by police, the judge heard, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

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

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the coming years, "such as operating in Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".