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A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture of a legendary being by affixing plastic eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, 19 years old, appeared remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.

Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the local council explained that CCTV footage captured a person putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which residents have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused did not enter a plea and informed the court she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate advising her to find a lawyer before her next court date in December.

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

“This intentional vandalism to a valued public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.”

The mayor said the council would pursue the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the vandalism.

When the artwork was initially suggested, it received varied responses from the local community due to its cost and appearance.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.