James Holder, the co-founder of the popular fashion brand Superdry, has been convicted of raping a woman he met after a night of drinking. The incident occurred when Holder, aged 54, visited the woman’s home, fell asleep on her bed, and later coerced her into her bedroom where the assault took place.
Despite denying charges of assault by penetration and rape, Holder was found guilty of rape by a jury at Gloucester Crown Court. The victim reported that she was attacked in the early hours of May 7, 2022, following a night out in Cheltenham. She tearfully pleaded with Holder to stop during the assault, eventually managing to escape the bedroom.
During the trial, Holder’s defense team claimed that the sexual encounter was consensual, with Holder stating that the woman initiated the intimacy. However, the victim vehemently denied these claims, asserting that she was forced into the situation against her will.
The court proceedings revealed conflicting testimonies about the nature of the encounter, with Holder portraying himself as a gentleman and the victim disputing his version of events. Holder further insisted that he left the woman’s home after the encounter because he had overstayed his welcome and needed to return home.
As the case unfolded, Holder maintained his innocence, arguing that he did not view the situation as a wrongdoing that required a hasty departure. The defendant, a resident of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has been remanded into custody pending sentencing.
