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Members of an Italy-based family of burglars who took more than £1.2 million valued of items, including from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their sister Jela and her son Charlie travelled to the north-east of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for between a decade or less in May 2025.

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at Newcastle Crown Court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.

Details of the Burglaries

The court was told the gang arrived by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service stations while utilizing another car to search for properties and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took over one million pounds of goods such as designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a honor from a residence on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole designer handbags, valuables and footwear valued at more than £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 on April 4, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional itinerant burglars, used hand coverings and masks, turned their phones on silent as they neared their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham area on 13 April.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer 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 found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge was informed, with two weeks to be served in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 each, with one week in prison the consequence if the money was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or owning a property", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".