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A teenager from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after reportedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a legendary being by applying plastic eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, aged 19, appeared remotely at the local court in South Australia on Tuesday, facing with a single charge of damaging property.

In a statement at the moment of the September incident, the local council explained that CCTV footage captured a person placing artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and informed the court she was ill, as reported by media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.

The following day the alleged incident, the local mayor said that repairs to the much-loved public artwork would be costly as the stickers could not be removed without damaging the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a cherished public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.”

She said the council would seek the “significant” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.

At the time the sculpture was first proposed, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and appearance.

Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.