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A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after reportedly vandalizing a sizable art piece of a mythical creature by affixing googly eyes to it.

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

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

Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the judge she was ill, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a legal representative before her next court date in the final month of the year.

A day after the reported event, the local mayor said that repairs to the much-loved public artwork would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without harming the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those members of our society who have embraced the Blue Blob.”

She said the local government would pursue the “substantial” repair costs from those responsible for the damage.

At the time the sculpture was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the area residents due to its cost and appearance.

Costing A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an prehistoric marsupial ant-eater discovered in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.