Drug dealer Adam Beck tasered a man while armed with a crossbow to collect a drug debt

Armed with a loaded crossbow and taser, a drug dealer and meth addict – with a mounting $20,000 debt – tasered a man in the face who owed him money.

A desperate drug dealer took extreme measures to collect a drug debt, including tasering a man in the face, while armed with a loaded crossbow.

Adam Leigh Beck, 34, was jailed for over five years in the Adelaide District Court last month after his methamphetamine addiction left him with a mounting drug debt.

The court heard that the victim – who owed Beck money for drugs – was asleep in his car on July 3, 2019 at Kilburn when he woke to someone jumping on the roof and bonnet of his car.

“He (the victim) became aware that the driver’s side window was smashed and he moved across to the passenger’s side, where he became aware of arms reaching through the broken window to try to get him and grab his leg,” Judge Geraldine Davison said during sentencing.

“At this time, he was tasered on the legs a number of times and was unable to move.

“He was then grabbed by the leg and pulled over to the driver’s side, he was then tasered in the face around the right eye.”

The court heard the victim experienced bruising and temporarily blurred vision.

When police arrived, Beck fled in a getaway car but was arrested after the victim gave police his name.

Police found a loaded crossbow and the taser during a search of the car.

The court heard police then searched Beck’s home, where they found over 50g of methamphetamine, multiple plastic resealable bags and messages on his phone consistent with drug dealing.

Beck was taken into custody and then released on bail on November 5, 2019.

The court heard Beck was searched by police on February 16, last year at Ingle Farm where they found methamphetamine, drug dealing messages on his phone, as well as $15,000 in a safe during a later search of his home.

Adam Beck was jailed in the Adelaide District Court for drug trafficking and recklessly causing harm. Picture: Facebook

Beck, of St Agnes, had previously pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including recklessly causing harm and drug trafficking.

“It was in 2015 when you say your life started to go downhill again,” Judge Davison said.

“You say you stopped caring anymore because you had lost your kids, your house and your job.

“It was then that your methylamphetamine use escalated and you started to break the law again.”

The court heard that when Beck was released on bail in November, he started trafficking again to pay off his substantial drug debt of $20,000

Judge Davison said Beck’s behaviour during the assault was “nothing short of reprehensible”, which Beck said he committed fuelled by fantasy and has no memory of.

“You attended at the premises as a debt collector to collect a drug debt, and did so armed with a loaded crossbow and using a taser,” she said.

“Your behaviour must have been very frightening for all those present and very painful.”

The court heard Beck was very remorseful for his offending and wanted to be part of his new baby’s life which his partner had earlier this year.

Judge Davison sentenced Beck to jail for five years and 11 months, with a non-parole period of 31 months.

The sentence was backdated to January 7.