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Individuals of an Italian clan of thieves who took more than £1.2 million worth of goods, including from former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.

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

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

At a proceeds of crime hearing at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were ordered to repay £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Burglaries

The court was told the group arrived by boat in the UK on 27 March 2024 and used a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out properties and execute thefts.

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

The next evening, the crew broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, valuables and shoes worth more than £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the home of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in money, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring thieves, wore gloves and masks, switched their phones on silent as they neared their targets and attached a license 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 denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by jurors, while his family members had all entered guilty pleas to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had profited from their crimes to the value of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the victims said they had had stolen.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the sole individual deemed to have any money that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The other three had no money or property so were directed to make a token amount of £1 per person, with seven days in prison the consequence if the sum was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with property in the coming years, "such as driving around in Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the sum outstanding".