James Holder, co-founder of Superdry, was found guilty of raping a woman after a night out in Cheltenham on May 6, 2022.
The court heard that the woman was intoxicated and repeatedly asked Holder to stop during the encounter. “She was telling him to stop. At one point, she remembered starting to cry, but even then, he didn’t stop,” said witness James Haskell.
Holder denied the charges of rape and assault by penetration. He claimed the sexual encounter was consensual. “I had been out for much longer than I anticipated and I needed to go home. I let myself out. She was asleep on the bed,” he stated.
The trial took place at Gloucester Crown Court. The jury’s decision comes amid growing scrutiny over issues of consent within nightlife culture.
Key facts from the trial:
- Holder was 54 years old at the time of the incident.
- The woman filmed Holder snoring after he fell asleep on her bed before the alleged rape.
- Superdry was founded in 2003 by Holder and Julian Dunkerton.
- Holder’s estimated fortune was around £199 million in 2018 according to The Sunday Times Rich List.
This case highlights serious concerns regarding accountability in the fashion industry and nightlife settings. The next expected development is a sentencing hearing scheduled for May 12.