Superdry co-founder found guilty of rape

Superdry co-founder James Holder has been convicted of rape.

Holder had been on a night out in May 2022 when he went back to the woman's flat in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and attacked her.

The 54-year-old was found guilty by a jury of seven men and five women after a five-day trial at Gloucester Crown Court, sitting in Cirencester.

Holder, of Cheltenham, was found not guilty of a charge of assault by penetration by the jury.

Recorder David Chidgey dismissed Holder's application of bail to get his affairs in order, stating the temptation for him to use his "significant resources" to leave would be "too great".

The fashion tycoon, who set up Superdry with Julian Dunkerton in 2003, was on an "impromptu night out" on 6 May 2022 which ended at the woman's flat, he told the court.

A witness said she had called a taxi for Holder and a separate one for the victim, but Holder had then got into the back of the victim's taxi, destined for her home address.

The court heard Holder had fallen asleep on the woman's bed while his friend took up the sofa in her living room, so she slept on the floor.

James Haskell, prosecuting, said Holder appeared at the living room doorway and asked her to join him in the bedroom, but she said "no, she was tired and she said he pulled her on the bed".

Holder had "continued to touch" the victim, Haskell said, describing him pulling off her lower clothing, which she "tried to stop".

"From time to time he would say sorry but then carried on. She was telling him to stop," Haskell said.

"At one point she remembered starting to cry but even then he didn't stop."

The jury was told the woman managed to escape from Holder and leave the bedroom. He left the flat shortly afterwards. The victim reported the allegations to the police and gave a video-recorded interview to detectives in July 2022.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Superdry said Holder resigned as a director and employee of the fashion brand in 2016, and a consultancy arrangement ended in 2019.

"The case relates to an incident in 2022, long after any role with Superdry had ended," they said.

"The court case does not relate to Superdry, its premises, employees or business activity. As this remains a matter for the court, Superdry cannot comment further."

Holder attended a voluntary interview with police in 2022, and spoke of his love of women and sex.

The married father-of-two said his instinct was to "protect [the victim] and women", and told detectives he could "handle alcohol well".

He is due to be sentenced on 7 May at Bristol Crown Court.

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