A man who kept thousands of pounds worth of stolen goods - including a bike belonging to former Downing Street spindoctor Alastair Campbell - in a Kentish Town “Aladdin’s cave” has walked free from court.

Alexander McWilliams stashed stolen goods at his home, including a road bike worth £2,500 belonging to keen cyclist Alastair Campbell, taken from his house in Gospel Oak in 2011.

He was jailed for nine months for three counts of handling stolen goods, including a bike belonging to police, as well as possessing ammunition without a firearms license. He was also given three months for possessing a controlled class A drug with intent to supply.

McWilliams, 37, of Lissenden Gardens, Gospel Oak, walked free from Blackfriars Crown Court because he had already served more than 12 months through observing a tagged curfew.

Judge Peter Murphy said he “hoped Mr Campbell would get his bike back”.

He added: “[McWilliams] had something like an Aladdin’s cave. This case has gone on for a considerable amount of time. “If the crime had been more organised and professional, the outcome might have been very different.”

McWilliams was also ordered to pay £2,910 in compensation.