🔗 Share this article

Members of an Italian family of burglars who took over £1.2 million worth of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been mandated to return only £1 per person.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo, their sister Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the northeastern of England to raid three houses in spring 2024.

The group of four were jailed for between a decade or less in 2025.

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

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group came by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "base of operations", which they parked at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for targets and execute thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than one million pounds of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on a street in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

The following night, the crew entered a home on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, and took designer handbags, jewellery and footwear valued at over £100,000.

After scouting out Newcastle United's training ground for 48 hours, they then acted at the home of Sweden striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds worth of jewellery and the striker's £120,000 luxury car.

The gang, who were described by the prosecution as professional touring thieves, used hand coverings and masks, switched their phones off as they approached their targets and strapped a license plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in a town, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino Nikolov had denied the burglary plot but was found guilty by the court, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the same charge.

At the proceeds of crime session, prosecutor the prosecution said every one of the burglars had profited from their offenses to the value of over £1.2 million, which was determined by what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie Jovanovic was the only one found to have any funds that could be "realised", namely £1,135.50 which had already been seized by authorities, the court heard, with 14 days to be spent in jail if he failed to pay.

The other three had no money or assets so were ordered to make a nominal fee of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not submitted.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were found with assets in the future, "such as driving around Italy in a sports car or owning a home", the prosecution could seek new proceedings to "satisfy the amount due".