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Individuals of an Italian family of thieves who took over £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- NUFC striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.

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

The foursome were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in May 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela Jovanovic and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 per person while Charlie Jovanovic must pay over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the gang arrived by boat in the UK on March 27, 2024 and used a campervan as their "headquarters", which they stationed at a service area and Durham service service stations while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole over £1m of items including designer clothing, purses, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the owners were on holiday.

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The gang, who were portrayed by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, wore hand coverings and face coverings, turned their phones on silent as they approached their objectives and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Legal Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the only one found to have any funds that could be "recovered", namely over a thousand pounds which had already been seized by police, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no assets or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with one week in incarceration the result if the sum was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "satisfy the sum due".