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Members of an Italian clan of burglars who stole over £1.2 million worth of items, including from former NUFC forward Isak, have been mandated to return just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in April 2024.

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

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie must pay £1,135.

Details of the Burglaries

The judge was told the gang came by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham service service stations while using a separate vehicle to scout out targets and carry out burglaries.

On 31 March they took over £1m of goods such as high-end fashion, handbags, jewellery and a CBE medal from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear valued at more than £100,000.

After scouting out the football club's facility for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as professional touring thieves, used gloves and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they neared their objectives and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with elastic bands.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Rulings

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

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

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any money that could be "realised", namely over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by police, the court heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a nominal fee of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the result if the sum was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "such as operating Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could initiate further action to "satisfy the sum due".