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A teenager from Australia has appeared in court after allegedly vandalizing a sizable blue sculpture of a legendary being by applying googly eyes to it.

Amelia Vanderhorst, aged 19, participated via phone at Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in the state of South Australia on Tuesday, facing with one count of damaging property.

Officials commented at the time of the recent event, the local council explained that surveillance video captured a individual placing fake eyes on the artwork, which locals have dubbed the “Blue Blob”.

The accused did not enter a plea and informed the court she was unwell, according to media sources, with the magistrate recommending her to secure a lawyer before her upcoming hearing in the final month of the year.

A day after the alleged incident, the local mayor said that repairs to the much-loved community sculpture would be costly as the stickers were impossible to be removed without damaging the sculpture.

“This wilful damage to a cherished community art is inappropriate and disrespectful,” City of Mount Gambier mayor remarked in September. “It is not harmless fun, it is pricey - it is also frustrating to those members of our community who have welcomed the Blue Blob.”

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

At the time the sculpture was first proposed, it drew mixed reactions from the area residents due to its price tag and design.

Priced at 136,000 Australian dollars ($89,000; £68,000), the artwork represents a legendary giant animal, with the sculpture’s designers inspired by an prehistoric anteater-like marsupial discovered in nearby caverns that was “massive, lumbering and fascinating”.