Leeton's Elijah Moore, 20, faced Griffith Local Court on Wednesday.

He was charged with assaulting a man near the Wade Hotel in Leeton on December 6, which caused grievous bodily harm.

Moore came up on a man from behind and without warning, punched him twice in the back of the head making him fall down.

While the victim was down, Moore repeatedly punched and kicked him in the head.

Passersby heard the victim grunting in pain from the assault, describing the sounds akin to "an extremely violent dog fight", court facts read.

Witnesses looking out a window heard Moore say "you big white fellas are trying to take our land."

When he tried to get up, Moore pushed the man back down and continued raining down punches and kicks to his head.

On at least two occasions, the victim tried to get but every time Moore came back to continue the assault.

Finally, Moore took off his t-shirt, threw it at the man, and walked away.

When police and ambulance officers came, they saw the man covered in an extreme amount of blood, lying in a pool of about 50 centimeters wide. He was taken to Griffith Base Hospital.

As police were interviewing witnesses, Moore ran past them and they shouting out "that's him".

A chase ensued for a short time before he was stopped.

Police saw his knuckles on both hands were red raw and split open, with smears and patches of wet blood on his shorts.

He told them he was "just going to the bank".

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He was arrested and taken to Leeton Police Station, where forensic DNA tests on the blood were later carried out.

The victim's injuries included multiple cuts to his face, as well as a broken nose.

Moore's legal representative Piers Blomfield outlined he suffered from a number of mental health issues including depression and bipolar.

"His circumstances are quite sad ... but there is a nexus between drugs and his behaviour," Mr Blomfield explained.

Magistrate M Moody read Moore's sentencing report, and said it was clear he showed no insight into the affects of his behaviour despite his mental health issues and social disadvantages

"But the sad thing about this report is it says he finds more comfort in custody," she said.

"This man is a danger to the community ... [it was a] vicious, vicious assault on a stranger for no other reason than that he was white."

She gave him an 18 month jail term backdated from his arrest on December 6.

Eligible for parole on December 5, Moore will have to undergo counselling for drugs, alcohol, and his mental health issues.