THREE young men drove around searching for an Indian to rob before setting on a student in a phone booth and bashing him unconscious, a court has heard.

The Victorian County Court heard Aleksander Trifunovic drove his friends Shayne Comensoli and Lennon Metaxas around Melbourne's west, looking for an Indian person to rob on the night of October 15, 2009.

Comensoli and Metaxas, who had been drinking at a local hotel, spotted Indian student Lucky Singh, 23, in a phone booth in Sunshine about 1.30am.

The two, both 20, got out of the car and attacked him.

Prosecutor Amelia Macknay said the pair believed a person of Indian ethnicity was most likely to have cash on him.

During the assault, Metaxas punched Mr Singh in the face so hard he fell to the ground.

Comensoli held him while Metaxas punched him repeatedly as Mr Singh screamed in pain and fear.

''Shut up, you Indian motherf-----,'' Comensoli repeatedly said, and then said, ''Now it's my turn,'' before swapping places with Metaxas and delivering more blows.

Hit up to 20 times in the head and face, Mr Singh curled up on the ground covering his head with his arms.

Mr Singh was left bleeding and unconscious on the footpath, suffering bone fractures, severe swelling and bruising.

The pair stole $80 in cash from his wallet and split it between them, then called for Trifunovic, 20, to collect them.

Mr Singh, who had been living in Victoria for eight months, said in his victim statement that the attack had shattered his confidence and he suffered flashbacks. ''I'm too scared to walk at night,'' he said. ''My life has completely changed. I feel scared to go outside.''

Mr Singh said he had thought Australians were welcoming and friendly, but had changed his mind.

Defence barrister Ron Tait denied there was a racial aspect to Trifunovic's crimes.

Metaxas was sentenced in March to three years in a youth justice centre after he pleaded guilty.