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

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid multiple homes in April 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

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 RV as their "base of operations", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using another car to scout out targets and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took more than £1m of goods including high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the gang entered a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and shoes valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then struck at the residence of Sweden striker Alexander Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the player's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced itinerant burglars, used hand coverings 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 on April 13.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains session, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was based on 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", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members 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 found with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the amount due".