Two Bedford shop owners have been prosecuted after admitting to selling vapes to 14-year-old girls during Trading Standards test purchase operations.
The cases were heard at Luton Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 8 May, following investigations by Bedford Borough Council’s Trading Standards team.
One of the prosecutions involved a shop owner who has now been successfully prosecuted twice this year for underage vape sales.
Repeat offence
Salar Ahmed, 49, owner and company director of Kaka Super Shop Limited in Dane Street, Bedford, pleaded guilty to selling a vape to a 14-year-old girl during a test purchase operation in October 2025.
The court heard that Ahmed personally conducted the sale without requesting proof of age.
He also pleaded guilty on behalf of his company. Total penalties, including fines, costs and a victim surcharge, amounted to £7,481.50.
The latest prosecution follows an earlier case in January, in which Kaka Super Shop Limited was fined £8,887.50 after another vape was sold to a 14-year-old during a test purchase operation in April 2025.
The total financial penalty relating to the two offences now stands at £16,369.
Bedford Borough Council said Ahmed left Bedford last year and is no longer trading in the borough.
The council said Kaka Super Shop Limited closed after the landlord required the lease to be surrendered following the council’s enforcement action.
Second prosecution
In a separate case, Broadway Vape owner Kamaljeet Randhawa, 57, of Curlew Crescent, Bedford, also pleaded guilty to selling a vape to a 14-year-old during a test purchase operation in October 2025.
The court heard Randhawa had previously been warned and given guidance by Trading Standards after another vape was sold to a 14-year-old girl during a test purchase in July 2025.
Randhawa admitted the offence and apologised to the court. He received penalties totalling £3,140.50.
Warning to retailers
Mayor Tom Wootton (Conservative) said: “The sale of vapes and other age-restricted products to children is illegal and poses significant health risks to our young people.
“Despite previous interventions and clear guidance, both business owners repeatedly failed in their legal responsibilities.
“These latest prosecutions send out 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.”
The council is urging retailers to ensure staff are properly trained and that robust age-verification procedures are in place to prevent sales of age-restricted products to children.
Residents concerned about businesses selling age-restricted products to minors can contact the council’s Trading Standards team.
Learn more about underage sales in Bedford Borough at the council’s website.
