🔗 Share this article

Members of an Italian family of thieves who stole over £1.2 million worth of items, among them from ex- Newcastle United striker Isak, have been ordered to pay back just £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of the UK to burgle three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the gang came by ferry in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while utilizing another car to scout out targets and execute thefts.

On March 31 they stole more than £1m of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on a street in Jesmond, Newcastle, while the residents were away.

The next evening, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear worth over £100,000.

Following surveillance of the football club's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, stealing £10,000 in cash, £68,000 valued of jewelry and the striker's £120,000 Audi RS6.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as experienced touring burglars, wore hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices on silent as they approached their objectives and attached a license plate, which had been stolen from a garage in a town, 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 conspiracy to burglary but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the criminal gains hearing, prosecutor the prosecution said each of the defendants had benefited from their crimes to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

But Charlie was the only one deemed to have any money that could be "recovered", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be served in jail if he defaulted.

The remaining members had no assets or property so were ordered to pay a nominal fee of £1 each, with seven days in prison the result if the money was not submitted.

Judge Spragg said if they were found with property in the future, "for example driving around Italy in a fast car or possessing a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "recover the sum due".