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A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after reportedly defacing a sizable blue sculpture of a legendary being by affixing googly eyes to it.

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

In a statement at the time of the September incident, the local council said that surveillance video captured a person placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.

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

A day after the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be expensive as the adhesive eyes could not be detached without damaging the art piece.

“This intentional vandalism to a valued community art is unacceptable and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor said in mid-September. “It is not innocent amusement, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those people of our community who have welcomed Cast in Blue.”

The mayor said the council would pursue the “substantial” restoration expenses from those responsible for the damage.

When the artwork was initially suggested, it drew mixed reactions from the local community due to its price tag and appearance.

Costing 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the creators influenced by an prehistoric marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.