James Holder, the 54-year-old co-founder of the fashion brand Superdry, has been found guilty of raping a woman after a night of drinking in Cheltenham. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of May 7, 2022, unfolded after Holder and a friend visited the woman’s home uninvited following an evening at a local bar.
According to court testimony at Gloucester Crown Court, Holder initially went to the bathroom and then fell asleep on the woman’s bed. Upon waking, he called the woman, who was resting in the lounge, into the bedroom where he committed the assault. Holder denied the charges, claiming any sexual activity was consensual; however, after four hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted him of assault by penetration but found him guilty of rape.
The victim testified that she repeatedly asked Holder to stop and was visibly distressed during the attack. She recounted how Holder forced her to perform oral sex, an act she unequivocally described as rape. Despite Holder’s defense portraying him as chivalrous and the encounter as mutual, the evidence presented contradicted these claims.
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Holder showed no visible reaction as the verdict was delivered. His barrister requested bail ahead of sentencing to allow him to settle personal affairs and bid farewell to his family, but the judge denied this, citing the risk of flight given Holder’s substantial resources.
James Holder now awaits sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on May 7, 2024, and has been remanded in custody. The case has sent ripples through both the fashion industry and the local community, highlighting the serious consequences of sexual violence irrespective of status.