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

The 19-year-old, aged 19, participated remotely at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on that day, facing with one count of damaging property.

Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video showed a individual putting fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

The accused made no plea and informed the court she was unwell, as reported by media sources, with the judge advising her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.

The following day the reported event, the local mayor said that restoration to the popular community sculpture would be expensive as the stickers could not be detached without damaging the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have embraced Cast in Blue.”

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

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

Priced at A$136,000 (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the sculpture depicts a mythical megafauna, with the creators inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.