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A young person from Australia has faced legal proceedings after reportedly defacing a large blue sculpture of a legendary being by applying plastic eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated via phone at the local court in South Australia on that day, facing with a single charge of damaging property.

Officials commented at the moment of the recent event, the local council explained that surveillance video captured a person placing fake eyes on the sculpture, which locals have nicknamed the “Blue Blob”.

Ms Vanderhorst made no plea and informed the court she was ill, according to news outlets, with the judge advising her to secure a lawyer before her next court date in the final month of the year.

The following day the reported event, the city leader stated that repairs to the popular public artwork would be expensive as the adhesive eyes were impossible to be detached without damaging the sculpture.

“This intentional vandalism to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” Mayor Lynette Martin said in mid-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 “substantial” restoration expenses from those accountable for the damage.

When the sculpture was initially suggested, it drew varied responses from the local community due to its price tag and design.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; sixty-eight thousand pounds), the sculpture represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater found in local caves that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.