Three people have been sentenced following a prosecution by Croydon Council’s trading standards team, after admitting to making misleading cold calls to vulnerable consumers across the country selling boiler repair cover.
Directors of The Gas Board Ltd – Steffan Smart, 32, of Hounslow, and brothers Arkin Almaajoun, 29, and Ali Almaajoun, 31, both of Coulsdon – pleaded guilty to consumer protection offences.
On 29 August 2025, Steffan Smart and Arkin Almaajoun were each sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with Criminal Behaviour Orders preventing them indefinitely from making sales directly to consumers, 140 hours of unpaid work, and each ordered to pay £15,000 of prosecution costs.
Ali Almaajoun received eight months imprisonment, suspended for two years, a Criminal Behaviour Order preventing him from making sales directly to consumers for 10 years, 80 hours of unpaid work, and £9,000 of prosecution costs.
The investigation began following multiple complaints to Trading Standards, Action Fraud, and British Gas about ‘The Gas Board Ltd’, based in Croydon. Victims reported being misled by the company name, believing they were speaking to British Gas. The defendants continued targeting those aged over 65 for financial gain, with many victims never receiving the service and only discovering the unauthorised contracts when money left their accounts.
His Honour Judge Gower KC stated: “Customers were misled by what they were told. It is quite clear to me that the three of you were set on obtaining as much money as you could and were completely unscrupulous in the way you went about doing so.” He also praised the efforts of the prosecution team.
“This is another great result for our trading standards team, prosecuting a gang who deceived many older people throughout the country.
“Huge thanks go to the National Trading Standards Tri Region Investigations Team, who were crucial in supporting us during this case.
“Anyone running a business in Croydon needs to do so lawfully and should be aware that if they break the law, we have some of the best trading standards officers in the public sector who work tirelessly to protect consumers.”
– Jason Perry, Conservative Mayor of Croydon
To report a trader to Trading Standards, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Line on 0808 223 1133 or the consumer service via Citizens Advice.
