James Holder, 54, co-founder of the fashion brand Superdry, has denied allegations of rape, insisting that his encounter with a woman after a night out was consensual. The case is currently being heard at Gloucester Crown Court.
Holder told the court that the woman initiated the encounter by kissing him first and that it was “evident what she wanted to happen.” On the night of May 6, 2022, Holder had been out in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and instead of returning home directly, he and a male friend accepted a ride from the complainant in her taxi and went to her flat. The woman alleges that Holder raped her there.
During testimony, Holder described himself as “old school and chivalrous” toward women and admitted he “adored sex.” He recounted that at the woman’s home, she offered him a drink, which he declined, put on music, and that he went to the toilet before falling asleep on her bed. Upon waking, he said he found the female complainant awake and sitting in a chair.
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Holder said the woman then approached him and they shared a brief kiss, lasting a maximum of five minutes, before moving to the bedroom where they kissed again. He argued that because he was wearing tight trousers that required both hands to remove, he could not have restrained the woman during the encounter.
He asserted that the sexual activity, which included oral sex and intercourse, was consensual, and that it stopped when the woman expressed discomfort. Holder said he did not see or hear the woman crying at any point. He left the flat shortly thereafter, stating he had been out longer than expected and needed to go home. The woman was asleep when he left.
Holder learned of the allegations in November 2022 during a police interview. He described feeling extreme shock, stating the accusation was “so foreign” and caused him to break down. In the interview, he reiterated his “old school and chivalrous” attitudes toward women.
Under cross-examination, Holder maintained that he acted in a protective and respectful manner throughout the evening. When questioned why he entered the complainant’s taxi and went to her home without explicit discussion, Holder denied acting on impulse or simply fulfilling his own desires. He admitted the woman’s initial kiss made his intentions clear but denied coercing her or forcing the encounter.
The prosecution challenged Holder’s version of events, including the claim that the woman fell asleep immediately after and that he left without concern. Holder denied any remorse or realization of wrongdoing at the time, refuting suggestions that he fled the scene out of guilt.
James Holder, who resides in Cheltenham, denies charges of rape and assault by penetration. The trial is ongoing.