The co-founder of a popular clothing brand, Superdry, is facing imprisonment following his conviction for sexually assaulting a woman he met while out drinking.
James Holder, aged 54, visited the woman’s residence after a night of drinking, where he fell asleep on her bed. Upon waking, he coerced the woman, who was trying to rest in the living room, into her bedroom where the assault took place.
Holder had contested charges of assault by penetration and rape, claiming that any sexual activity was consensual. However, a jury at Gloucester Crown Court, sitting in Cirencester, acquitted him of the former but found him guilty of rape.
The incident occurred in the early hours of May 7, 2022, following a night out at a Cheltenham bar. Holder and a companion had gone to the woman’s home without invitation, leading to the assault after Holder woke from a brief nap on her bed.
During her testimony, the woman described pleading with Holder to stop while he continued the assault. She managed to escape the bedroom, ending the ordeal as Holder departed shortly thereafter.
Refuting claims that she had initiated the encounter, the woman stated, “He forced me to try and perform oral sex on him.”
In the courtroom, Holder’s defense portrayed him as respectful and admirative of women, suggesting that the encounter was consensual. He alleged that the woman had made advances towards him and implied her willingness for intimate activity.
The court heard differing accounts from both parties regarding the nature of the encounter, with the woman labeling it as rape while Holder argued it was consensual up to a point where it stopped due to discomfort.
When questioned about his departure from the residence, Holder explained that he needed to leave as he had been out longer than intended. He maintained that the woman was asleep when he left.
During cross-examination, Holder denied any premeditated motive for going to the woman’s home. The prosecution alleged that he took advantage of the situation to engage in sexual activity.
Holder, a resident of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was placed in custody pending sentencing.