A SIX-year jail sentence handed to a brutal thug who bashed three strangers would not end his victims' pain, the mother of one victim said outside court yesterday.

Allison Geisel's  20-year-old son Dean was attacked as he ate a hot dog in Lake St at 4.15am on May 12 last year.

His jaw was broken when he was punched to the ground outside the Westpac Bank.

In Cairns District Court yesterday, Paul Michael Anning pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm against Mr Geisel and two other young men.

Each of the unprovoked and violent attacks happened between 3am and 4am when Anning, now 24, was drunk and under the influence of cannabis.

Mrs Geisel said outside court it was a "sad event" and although the sentence was longer than she expected, it would not bring an end to her son's pain.

"I am a little bit upset at the lack of remorse he showed ... but he is paying the price now," she said.

Judge Peter White ordered Anning to serve successive two-year sentences for each offence.

"Nothing that any of these three young men did could in the slightest way rationally justify, excuse or make less serious the brutal and cowardly violence when this defendant assaulted these three young men," he said.

Prosecutor Skye Growden said the first victim was punched in the face outside the BP service station at the corner of Mulgrave Rd and McCoombe St on May 28, 2006.

The 18-year-old's head hit a pole after the first punch. Anning punched him at least another six times and kicked him in the head four times.

Anning told police it was "like when you kick a football" and said the man had "asked for more".

Five months later, Anning attacked a 22-year-old British backpacker walking down Lake St at 4.40am on October 7. 

He punched the man in the side of the face and knocked him to the ground.

The backpacker's jaw was fractured in two places.

Anning told police the attacks were triggered by racial taunts but defence barrister Kevin McCreanor conceded there was no provocation.

Judge White said Anning showed little remorse and "three serious and unprovoked attacks in the space of 12 months, in my view, says something about his character".

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