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Individuals of an Italy-based family of burglars who took more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- NUFC forward Isak, have been ordered to return just £1 per person.

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

The foursome were jailed for from six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a criminal assets hearing at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were instructed to pay back £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the group arrived by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service rest stops while using a separate vehicle to scout out properties and execute burglaries.

On 31 March they took over £1m of items including high-end fashion, handbags, jewelry and a honor from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear worth over £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then struck at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as professional touring burglars, wore hand coverings and masks, turned their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken 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 Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had pleaded not guilty to the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, lawyer the prosecution said each of the defendants had profited from their crimes to the value of £1,266,285.93, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be spent in prison if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were ordered to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in incarceration the result if the money was not submitted.

The judge Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the sum due".