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A teenager from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by affixing plastic eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, aged 19, participated via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, facing with one count of property damage.

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

The accused made no plea and told the court she was ill, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate advising her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.

The following day the reported event, the city leader stated that restoration to the much-loved public artwork would be expensive as the stickers were impossible to be detached without damaging the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those people of our society who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”

She added the local government would pursue the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the vandalism.

At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the local community due to its cost and appearance.

Costing 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.