David Thomas Cleaver, Anthony Clayton Toby sentence over robbery in Brassall

A pair of mates decided to have a night on the town — but their endeavours ended in a world of trouble and an after-dark robbery.

David Thomas Cleaver was charged over a robbery in April of 2021. Picture: Facebook

A night on the town has led to a prison sentence for two Ipswich men charged over an late-night robbery in April 2021.

David Thomas Cleaver, 31 of Goodna and Anthony Clayton Toby, 27 of Lutwyche each pleaded guilty to a single charge of robbery in company using personal violence.

Shortly after midnight on April 9, 2021, Cleaver approached the victim and his female associate in the car park of the Mihi Tavern in Brassall, the court heard.

He proceeded to engage in an altercation with the victim which resulted in Cleaver repeatedly striking the victim even when he fell to the ground.

The victim had previously attempted to de-escalate the situation and was seen in CCTV footage shown to the court to be using ‘calming’ hand gestures and trying to keep his distance from Cleaver.

A short time later, Cleaver was picked up in a car driven by his co-accused.

They took the victim under duress to a nearby 7-Eleven, where they demanded money from him.

Cleaver was supported in court by family and friends, with his mother shedding tears as she watched the CCTV footage.

His partner of several years, Emily Harnwell gave a reference saying Cleaver’s behaviour on the night in question was “completely out-of-character” and that despite Cleaver’s history of drug use, the pair had ”turned their life around” after finding out they were pregnant in August 2020.

The prosecution disputed this claim, citing Cleaver’s criminal history, including a charge of possession of a dangerous drug from October 2022, where Cleaver was allegedly found in possession of 0.3g of cocaine in Fortitude Valley.

Cleaver was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment, with parole eligibility set from August 27, 2023.

Toby was sentenced to 18 months jail, fully suspended, for an operational period of two years.