Adam Byrne was jailed for trafficking methamphetamine and heroin in hotel room

A drug dealer locked himself in a bathroom during a raid and ate large amounts of meth and heroin to hide evidence from police, a court has heard.

A man who was caught getting rid of meth and heroin down the toilet also admitted to consuming large amounts of the drugs before arrest, a court has heard.

Adam David Byrne’s desperate attempts to hide evidence from police during a hotel room raid ended in his hospitalisation.

The Adelaide District Court heard police attended a Bank Street hotel on January 4, 2020 in search of Byrne, 47, who had a Parole Board warrant for his arrest.

“As police entered the room you locked yourself in the bathroom and police forced entry into that room,” Judge Ian Press said during sentencing.

Police saw Byrne, who had a crystalline substance around his mouth, in the process of disposing drugs into the toilet, as well as drugs scattered on the floor.

They found a backpack containing methamphetamine, four sets of scales and a variety of prescription medications.

The methamphetamine found on the floor and in the backpack weighed 5.35g and contained 2.48g of pure methamphetamine.

The heroin found in a tub retrieved from the toilet and the bag on the floor weighed 5.01g and contained 1.77g of pure heroin.

“After your arrest your condition deteriorated and police took you to the hospital,” Judge Press said.

“Police gave evidence that you made admissions to consuming large amounts of each drug.”

Byrne also produced $3220 from his underwear at the hospital.

Supplied Editorial Adam Byrne was jailed for drug trafficking. Photo: Facebook

Judge Press said it couldn’t be proven that Byrne was the sole possessor of the drugs as another person linked to the hotel room was arrested two days later in possession of a firearm and more than 100 grams of methamphetamine.

“Your possession of the $3000 … the need for you to fund your addiction and the presence of another person in the room with access to large amounts of methamphetamine, all indicate that those drugs were destined for sale by someone and that your possession was facilitating that distribution into the community,” Judge Press said.

Byrne, of Glandore, was found guilty at trial of trafficking methamphetamine and heroin but was acquitted of a third count of trafficking 1,4-Butanediol, also known as fantasy.

The court heard Byrne, who is on a disability support pension, has been addicted to methamphetamine and heroin for most of his adult life.

“It is to be hoped you will get sick of this lifestyle and determine that you will make and persevere with changes to your life,” Judge Press said.

He sentenced Byrne to four years jail, with a non-parole period of three years and two months.

The sentence was backdated to July 8, 2021.