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A teenager from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a large art piece of a mythical creature by affixing plastic eyes to it.

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

Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that CCTV footage showed a person putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and told the judge she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the judge advising her to find a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.

The following day the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes could not be removed without damaging the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a cherished public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also frustrating to those people of our society who have embraced Cast in Blue.”

She added the council would pursue the “substantial” repair costs from those accountable for the vandalism.

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

Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.