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Individuals of an Italy-based clan of thieves who took over £1.2 million worth of items, including from former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela and her child Charlie Jovanovic travelled to the northeastern of England to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they took over £1m of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

The following night, the gang broke into a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and shoes valued at over one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for two days, they then struck at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as professional itinerant thieves, wore gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie 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 was informed, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or property so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the consequence if the money was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".