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A teenager from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large art piece of a legendary being by affixing plastic eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated remotely at the local court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, facing with a single charge of property damage.

Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the municipal authorities explained that surveillance video captured a person putting fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

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

A day after the reported event, the local mayor stated that repairs to the popular community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without harming the art piece.

“This wilful damage to a valued public artwork is unacceptable 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 welcomed the Blue Blob.”

The mayor said the council would seek the “substantial” restoration expenses from those accountable for the vandalism.

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

Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.