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A young person from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a mythical creature by affixing plastic eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, 19 years old, appeared via phone at the local court in South Australia on Tuesday, facing with a single charge of property damage.

In a statement at the time of the recent event, the local council explained that surveillance video captured a person putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the court she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the judge advising her to find a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.

The following day the reported event, the local mayor said that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the stickers were impossible to be removed without damaging the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”

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

When the sculpture was first proposed, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.

Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an prehistoric marsupial ant-eater discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.