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Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took over £1.2m valued of items, among them from former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela Jovanovic and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The court previously heard the gang arrived by ferry in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the owners were away.

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and shoes valued at over £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's facility for two days, they then struck at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, used hand coverings and masks, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their targets and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

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

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had benefited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the judge was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 each, with seven days in incarceration the result if the sum was not paid.

Judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "for example operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the amount outstanding".