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

Amelia Vanderhorst, 19 years old, appeared via phone at the local court in South Australia on Tuesday, charged with a single charge of property damage.

In a statement at the time of the September incident, the municipal authorities said that surveillance video captured a person putting artificial eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed 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 advising her to find a legal representative before her next court date in December.

A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor stated that repairs to the much-loved public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without harming the sculpture.

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

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

At the time the artwork was first proposed, it received mixed reactions from the local community due to its price tag and design.

Priced at A$136,000 ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork depicts a legendary giant animal, with the creators inspired by an ancient anteater-like marsupial discovered in local caves that was “huge, slow-moving, and intriguing”.