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Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole over £1.2m valued of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 each.

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

The group of four were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 per person while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The judge was told the gang came by boat in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while utilizing another car to search for properties and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they took over one million pounds of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and shoes worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, taking ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their phones off as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the sum due".