🔗 Share this article

Individuals of an Italian family of burglars who stole more than £1.2m worth of goods, among them from ex- NUFC striker Isak, have been ordered to return only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino and Giacomo, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her son Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of the UK to raid three houses in April 2024.

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

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

Details of the Break-ins

The court was told the gang came by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and used a campervan as their "base of operations", which they stationed at a service area and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for targets and execute burglaries.

On March 31 they took over one million pounds of goods such as high-end fashion, purses, jewelry and a CBE medal from a residence on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were away.

The following night, the gang broke into a house on a gated cul-de-sac in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, valuables and footwear worth more than £100,000.

Following surveillance of Newcastle United's training ground for two days, they then acted at the residence of Swedish player Mr Isak in Darras Hall, Ponteland on April 4, taking £10,000 in cash, £68,000 worth of jewellery and the player's one hundred twenty thousand pound luxury car.

The gang, who were portrayed by the prosecution as experienced itinerant thieves, used hand coverings and face coverings, turned their mobile devices off as they neared their objectives and attached a number plate, which had been taken from a garage in Chester-le-Street, on to their vehicle with rubber straps.

They were apprehended in the Birmingham area on April 13.

Legal Proceedings and Rulings

Valentino had denied the burglary plot but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all submitted guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime hearing, prosecutor Daniel Cordey said every one of the burglars had benefited from their crimes to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had had stolen.

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

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the result if the money was not paid.

The judge Robert Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the future, "such as driving around in Italy in a sports car or possessing a home", prosecutors could initiate new proceedings to "satisfy the sum due".