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A young person from the Land Down Under has faced legal proceedings after allegedly defacing a large art piece of a mythical creature by applying plastic eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, aged 19, participated via phone at the local court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with one count of damaging property.

In a statement at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a individual putting fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and informed the court she was unwell, according to media sources, with the magistrate advising her to find a legal representative before her next court date in the final month of the year.

The following day the alleged incident, the city leader said that restoration to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without harming the sculpture.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in mid-September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.”

The mayor added the council would pursue the “substantial” repair costs from those accountable for the damage.

At the time the artwork was initially suggested, it received varied responses from the area residents due to its price tag and appearance.

Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.