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

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

In a statement at the time of the recent event, the municipal authorities said that CCTV footage captured a individual putting fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

The accused made no plea and informed the court she was unwell, as reported by news outlets, with the magistrate recommending her to find a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in December.

A day after the reported event, the city leader stated that restoration to the much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without damaging the art piece.

“This wilful damage to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is costly - it is also disappointing to those people of our community who have embraced the Blue Blob.”

She said the council would seek the “significant” repair costs from those responsible for the vandalism.

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

Costing 136,000 Australian dollars (eighty-nine thousand US dollars; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.