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A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, 19 years old, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, charged with a single charge of property damage.

Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a individual placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and told the court she was ill, according to news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to find a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.

The following day the alleged incident, the city leader stated that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without damaging the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin remarked in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those people of our society who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

She said the council would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.

At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the local community due to its cost and appearance.

Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.