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

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

In a statement at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities explained that CCTV footage captured a person placing artificial eyes on the sculpture, which residents have nicknamed the “Cast in Blue”.

Ms Vanderhorst did not enter a plea and told the court she was ill, according to news outlets, with the judge recommending her to find a legal representative before her upcoming hearing in December.

The following day the reported event, the local mayor said that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be removed without harming the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a cherished public artwork is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”

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

When the sculpture was initially suggested, it received mixed reactions from the local community due to its price tag and design.

Costing A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the sculpture depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial found in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.