A court has been informed that James Holder, the co-founder of clothing brand Superdry, is facing allegations of sexually assaulting and raping a woman following a night of drinking.
According to the prosecution, Holder, aged 54, visited the woman’s residence after a night out, where he allegedly raped her after waking up from a nap he took on her bed.
Prosecutor James Haskell stated: “The prosecution’s argument is that James Holder sexually attacked and raped a woman on May 7, 2022.
The incident reportedly occurred at the woman’s residence in Cheltenham after they had been out at a bar, with Holder and another man unexpectedly joining her in the taxi back home.
The woman alleged that she was surprised by the presence of the men in her taxi and upon arriving home, they followed her inside.
After finding Holder asleep on her bed, the woman chose to sleep on the lounge floor while another man was asleep on her sofa. However, Holder later approached her in the living room, requesting her to join him in the bedroom.
Despite her refusals, Holder allegedly proceeded to touch her inappropriately, leading to a distressing encounter where the woman felt compelled to cry in an attempt to stop him.
The woman managed to escape and report the incident to the police, highlighting Holder’s previous involvement in Superdry before starting a new venture.
The prosecution emphasized the woman’s vulnerable state due to intoxication that night, alleging that Holder took advantage of her condition.
Holder, who resides in Cheltenham, has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and assault by penetration.
The trial is ongoing.
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