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

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, participated via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in South Australia on that day, facing with one count of damaging property.

Officials commented at the moment of the September incident, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video showed a individual placing artificial eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused made no plea and told the court she was unwell, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.

A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be removed without harming the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those people of our society who have embraced Cast in Blue.”

The mayor added the council would pursue the “significant” restoration expenses from those responsible for the vandalism.

At the time the artwork 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 depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.