This incredible teen fought off a mugger from her wheelchair, proved that she’s not a target

When a thief in England was choosing his next target, he may have thought that because 18-year-old Megan Luscombe is in a wheelchair, she’d be no match. . . but boy, was he wrong.

Megan, an art and design student at National Star College, had been shopping for shoes and a purse near her college, and she decided to withdraw money from a nearby ATM. “We were going to buy pizza so I withdrew £20,” Megan told Western Daily Press. “It was two £10 notes and this man came forward and I thought he was going to help me by passing the money to me. When I realized what he was doing I screamed and told him to stop.”

She screamed for help as she tried to grab her money back. “We both had our hands on my money,” Megan, who’s from Downend in Bristol, explained to ITV. “I was scared but I still wouldn’t let go — I may be small but I have a strong grip. I can’t walk but I’m quite strong with my arms.”

Megan was born with Friedreich Ataxia, a genetic disease that affects her muscles and resigns her to a wheelchair. But she refused to let her disability make her a target. “I was very worried that it would happen again but I’m proud of myself. It was cowardly of him to go for me,” she told ITV.

Megan managed to get back some of her money before others heard her screams. “I got back one £10 note and half of another before two men and two women stepped in,” she explained to Western Daily Press. Two of them shoved the mugger into a nightclub doorway, while a third took a picture of him and the fourth comforted Megan.

“People in wheelchairs are seen as easy targets but the thief underestimated me,” Megan told Western Daily Press. “I can be pretty determined when I want to be.”

The thief, whose name is Milan Bugala, 51, was convicted of theft and jailed for 18 weeks, then was given an extra four weeks for an unrelated offense. “While we don’t usually advise people to confront criminals as you don’t know how they might react, Megan’s actions and those who helped her were courageous,” a Gloucestershire Police spokesman told Western Daily Press. “Bugala’s actions. . . were cowardly and we’re pleased he’s been given a custodial sentence for targeting a vulnerable member of the community.”

As for Megan, it’s clear that no one’s gonna mess with her without a fight. “Megan isn’t easily intimidated and certainly demonstrated that with her quick thinking response,” Kathryn Rudd, Principal of National Star College, told Western Daily Press. “She proved that she shouldn’t be underestimated just because she has a disability.”

Megan clearly can fight anyone off, but she also is grateful to those who stepped in and helped her during this dangerous time. “I want to say thank you to the people who helped me,” she told Western Daily Press.

Megan, you are totally awesome. Not only have your actions showed the world how badass you are, but you’ve highlighted something so, so important: A disability is not a target.

(Images via Facebook)