Man bludgeoned with hammer in Tiffany Elaine Levitt and David William Melain’s horrific home invasion

A court has heard how a man was brutally bludgeoned with a hammer and robbed of thousands of dollars when he was set upon in a violent act of retribution.

Two Acacia Ridge residents have been sentenced for stealing more than $3000 in cash and the brutal assault of an Ipswich man, who was put in a coma and required steel plating to reinforce his skull.

The court heard that Tiffany Elaine Levitt, 35, waited in a car while David William Melain, 37, allegedly accompanied by another man, approached the East Ipswich residence of Thomas William Diamond in the early hours of the morning on June 8, 2021.

Diamond, who has since been sentenced for assaulting police, was watching TV in his parents‘ granny flat while his flatmate was in the shower when he heard movement outside.

He opened the door to see what was happening and was “immediately rushed” by Melain, according to Judge Terry Gardiner.

David William Melain, sentenced in Ipswich District Court for armed robbery in company and grievous bodily harm. Picture Facebook

The other man allegedly said they wanted money, brandished a hammer, and struck him in the forehead with it, causing profuse bleeding.

Diamond retreated to the bathroom, where he heard someone rummaging through the flat.

He tried to intervene but was allegedly struck another four to five times in the head by the other man.

Diamond told them he’d seen their faces and they wouldn’t get away with it, and Melain punched him in the forehead.

Melain and the other man allegedly ran from the flat, pursued by Diamond, who allegedly saw a third person who he recognised running with them.

Levitt then drove up in a car to pick up the three men.

Diamond found they had stolen $800 in cash from his wallet and a further $3000-$4000 in cash.

He was taken to the Ipswich Hospital, suffering seizures, and was treated for a depressed skull fracture and haemorrhaging.

He underwent emergency surgery and was in an induced coma for a week, and eventually needed to have his skull reinforced with titanium plates.

Judge Gardiner said Levitt made admissions to police that she had organised the home invasion as she “was seeking retribution for an incident between herself and the complainant that caused her significant embarrassment and discomfort”.

She further told them she had given her co-accused specific instructions to assault Diamond while she waited in the car.

Tiffany Elaine Levitt, sentenced in Ipswich District Court for armed robbery in company and grievous bodily harm. Picture: Facebook

The court heard both Levitt and Melain had extensive criminal histories, both including violenting offending and robberies.

Defence barrister Scott Neaves said Melain had a long history of drug abuse and had struggled with methamphetamine addiction, mental health, and significant personal losses in recent years.

Defence barrister Steve Kissick said Levitt had a disadvantaged upbringing, five children, and had also been “heavily intoxicated by drugs when she was encouraging others to engage in this quite abhorrent conduct”.

Judge Gardiner said “on any view this is a serious example of a home invasion offence, particularly where significant violence was undertaken”.

Both Levitt and Melain pleaded guilty in Ipswich District Court to burglary in the night whilst armed in company, armed robbery in company with personal violence, grievous bodily harm and common assault.

Melain was sentenced to six years imprisonment, with his parole release date set for June 9, 2023, and 468 days of presentence custody declared time-served.

Levitt was sentenced to five years imprisonment, to be suspended for five years after she has spent 20 months in custody.