A convenience store which sold a vape to a 14-year-old girl has been ordered to pay almost £9,000 by magistrates.
Salar Ahmed, 48, owner and company director of Kaka Super Shop Limited in 2b Dane Street, Bedford, appeared before Luton Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 20 January.
Ahmed, of Waterside Crescent, Oldbury pleaded guilty to two separate offences under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2025, following a test purchase operation by Bedford Borough Council on 11 April 2025.
The court heard that the store had a history of making illegal sales. Trading Standards had previously seized 2,000 illegal cigarettes and 265 illegal vapes in June 2024, 200 illegal cigarettes and 40 illegal vapes in October 2024, and 1,440 illegal cigarettes, 0.6kg hand rolling tobacco and 13 illegal vapes in October 2024.
There was also a test purchase operation in December 2024, when a vape was sold to a to a 14-year-old, and in February 2025 when the store sold cigarettes that were not in plain standardised packaging and did not have the prescribed pictorial warnings or wording in English as required under UK law.
Magistrates imposed a total penalty of £8,887.50, including fines, victim surcharge, and costs, and ordered a 28-day collection order.
Councillor Phillippa Martin-Moran-Bryant, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, said; “Vapes pose significant health risks to our young people, which is why selling them to children is illegal.
“But Kaka Super Shop Limited has repeatedly failed in its legal responsibilities, despite all of our previous interventions and clear guidance.
“This latest prosecution sends a strong message that we will not tolerate such behaviour in Bedford Borough. Our Trading Standards team will continue to take robust action to protect young residents, support legitimate businesses and ensure businesses comply with the law.”
Bedford Borough Council urges all retailers to prioritise staff training and implement robust procedures to prevent the sale of age-restricted products to minors.
Residents who have concerns about businesses selling age-restricted products to minors can report them to Bedford Borough Council's Trading Standards team by emailing ehadmin@bedford.gov.uk
By working together, we can ensure that businesses adhere to responsible practices and safeguard our children from potential harm.
Learn more about underage sales in Bedford Borough at www.bedford.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/underage-sales
Find further advice for consumers and businesses in Bedford Borough at www.bedford.gov.uk/business/trading-standards