James Holder, co-founder of the popular clothing brand Superdry, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman in Cheltenham. The incident occurred in the early hours of May 7, 2022, following an evening at a local bar.
According to court testimony, Holder and a friend went uninvited to the woman’s home after the night out. Holder fell asleep on her bed but woke up and called the woman, who was resting in the lounge, into the bedroom. He then sexually assaulted her despite her pleas to stop.
Holder, 54, from Cheltenham, denied the charges, claiming any sexual activity was consensual. While a jury acquitted him of assault by penetration, they convicted him of rape during the trial at Cirencester Courthouse.
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At Bristol Crown Court, Recorder David Chidgey condemned Holder’s actions as “a despicable piece of sexual violence” motivated by a sense of entitlement and blatant disregard for the victim’s autonomy. The judge emphasized Holder’s violation of the woman’s absolute right to control her own body.
The victim described the traumatic event during testimony, recalling her efforts to resist and ultimately escape. Holder, a married father of two, did not react visibly during the sentencing hearing, appearing via video link from HMP Hewell.