An 18-year-old man was robbed and bashed so brutally by a group of teens that he needed facial surgery, in an attack in Kensington in Melbourne's inner north-west last month.

The teens stole his iPhone and wallet. An hour later, a different group of youths used the man's bank cards to buy cigarettes from a petrol station, police say.

Police have released CCTV images of the youths they would like to speak to over the stolen bank cards. Police do not believe these teens were involved in the bashing.

Police have released images of teens they would like to speak to over the stolen bank cards, believed to be a separate group of youths to those allegedly behind the bashing. Credit:Victoria Police

On April 17, the man was walking along Gatehouse Drive with a friend about 12.20am when five teenagers asked for a cigarette, according to police.