🔗 Share this article

Members of an Italy-based clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million worth of goods, among them from ex- Newcastle United forward Isak, have been mandated to pay back just £1 each.

Brothers Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle three houses in spring 2024.

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

At a proceeds of crime proceeding at the court, Jela and the brothers Nikolov were instructed to pay back £1 each while Charlie must pay over a thousand pounds.

Particulars of the Break-ins

The court previously heard the group arrived by ferry in the UK on 27 March 2024 and employed a campervan as their "headquarters", which they parked at a service area and Durham service service stations while using a separate vehicle to search for targets and carry out 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 Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

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

After scouting out the football club's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish striker Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, stealing ten thousand pounds in money, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were portrayed by prosecutors as professional itinerant burglars, wore gloves and face coverings, switched their mobile devices on silent as they approached their targets and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with elastic bands.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham on 13 April.

Court Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino Nikolov had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by jurors, while his three relations had all submitted admissions to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer Daniel Cordey said every one of the defendants had benefited from their offenses to the amount of £1,266,285.93, which was determined by what the victims said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual found to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically over a thousand pounds which had previously been confiscated by authorities, the judge heard, with two weeks to be spent in prison if he failed to pay.

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

The judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "for example driving around in Italy in a fast car or owning a property", the prosecution could seek further action to "recover the amount outstanding".