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Individuals of an Italy-based family of thieves who took over £1.2m worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

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

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

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court was told the group arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while utilizing a separate vehicle to scout out properties and carry out thefts.

On March 31 they took over £1m of items such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were on holiday.

The following night, the crew entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole designer handbags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for two days, they then struck at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by the prosecution as experienced itinerant burglars, used gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices off as they approached their targets and attached a license plate, which had been taken from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his family members had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the criminal gains session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court heard, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or assets so were directed to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the amount due".