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Superdry co-founder James Holder accused of raping woman in Gloucestershire court
James Holder, 54, co-founder of Superdry, is accused of raping a woman after a night out in Cheltenham in 2022. The court heard that he woke the woman, pulled her into a bedroom, and continued to touch her despite her pleas to stop; she escaped and Holder left. Holder denies the charges of rape and assault by penetration, claiming any sexual activity was consensual, and the complainant reported the incident to police in July 2022.
Why It Matters
The case involves a prominent business figure facing serious sexual assault allegations and highlights ongoing discussions about consent, victim vulnerability, and accountability in high-profile cases.
Timeline
3 Events
Police reporting and video interview in July 2022
July 2022
The woman later reported the allegations to the police and gave a video-recorded interview to detectives in July 2022.
Rape alleged in the early hours of May 7, 2022
May 7, 2022
The prosecution says James Holder sexually assaulted and raped a woman in the early hours of May 7, 2022. After waking in the woman's flat, he told her to join him in the bedroom, pulled her onto the bed, and continued to touch her despite her attempts to stop him; she cried, but he did not stop. The woman managed to escape and Holder left soon after.
Night out in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire (2022)
2022
Holder went back to the woman's home after a night out in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, in 2022 and then fell asleep on her bed.