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A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after allegedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, 19 years old, participated via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, charged with one count of property damage.

Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the local council explained that surveillance video showed a person placing artificial eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused did not enter a plea and informed the court she was unwell, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in December.

The following day the reported event, the local mayor stated that repairs to the popular public artwork would be costly as the stickers could not be removed without harming the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our society who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

She said the local government would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses 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 cost and design.

Costing 136,000 Australian dollars (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.