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A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after reportedly vandalizing a large blue sculpture of a mythical creature by applying googly eyes to it.

The 19-year-old, aged 19, appeared remotely at the local court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with a single charge of damaging property.

Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video captured a individual putting fake eyes on the sculpture, which residents have dubbed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused made no plea and informed the court she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the magistrate advising her to secure a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.

The following day the reported event, the city leader said that repairs to the popular public artwork would be expensive as the stickers could not be detached without damaging the art piece.

“This wilful damage to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also disappointing to those members of our community who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”

She said the local government would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.

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

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in nearby caverns that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.