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Court hands down sentence for sculpture prank
A 20-year-old woman has been convicted of graffiti after attaching googly eyes to a well-known public sculpture in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
Amelia Vanderhorst pleaded guilty to the charge in Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday. She was ordered to pay A$2,000 (approximately $1,394; £1,040) in compensation and complete 60 hours of community service.
Incident details and legal outcome
The offence occurred last September when Vanderhorst, under the influence of MDMA and three litres of vodka, placed the stickers on the sculpture, her lawyer Michael Hill told the court.
Initially charged with property damage, the case was later amended to a graffiti charge following negotiations with prosecutors.
Defence statement and personal progress
Hill stated that Vanderhorst has since taken "meaningful steps" to address the issues that led to her actions, including reducing her substance use and working to stabilise her personal circumstances.
"She is committed to making better decisions moving forward," Hill said in a statement to the BBC.
Vanderhorst had initially launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover legal fees, describing herself as "young and jobless," according to ABC. However, she later cancelled the campaign and returned the donated funds, Hill confirmed.
Community reaction and sculpture background
The sculpture, titled Cast in Blue and nicknamed the "Blue Blob" by locals, was unveiled last July. It depicts a mythical megafauna inspired by an ancient marsupial ant-eater discovered in local caves, described as "massive, lumbering and fascinating."
The artwork, which cost A$136,000, received mixed reactions from the community when it was first proposed, with some questioning its design and price tag.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin condemned the act as "wilful damage to a valued public artwork," noting that removing the stickers would be costly and could harm the sculpture.
Next steps
Vanderhorst is expected to fulfil her community service and compensation obligations within the court-mandated timeline.
