“BBC Homepage Skip to content Accessibility Help Sign in Notifications More menu Search BBC BBC News Menu England Local News Gloucestershire Superdry co-founder guilty of rape IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA Image caption, James Holder denied both charges against him ByMaisie Lillywhite Gloucestershire Published 1 May 2026, 11:34 BST Updated 6 hours ago 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 and say goodbye to his family, stating he was too much of a flight risk, due to his “significant resources”. 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. 00:27 Figure caption, James Holder is taken away from court after the guilty verdict 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”. ‘He didn’t stop’ Holder had “continued to touch” the victim, Haskell said, describing him pulling off her lower clothing, which she “tried to stop”. “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. 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”. Det Con Elle MacLeod, from Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences team, encouraged more survivors of rape to come forward and report it following Holder’s guilty verdict. “I would like to commend the survivor for her courage and bravery in coming forward to the police,” MacLeod said. “She has shown incredible strength, not only throughout our investigation, but also while giving evidence in court in front of a jury. Holder raped her despite her repeated pleas for him to stop. “He will now have to face the consequences of his abhorrent actions,” she added. IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, James Holder said in his interview with police in 2022 that he loved women and sex In a statement, 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,” a spokesperson 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.” Gloucestershire Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre, which supports victims across the county, said the case was “a stark reminder that sexual violence can be perpetrated by people who are powerful, wealthy, and well‑known in our communities”. CEO Sharne Maher said: “Our thoughts are firmly with the survivor, whose courage in coming forward should never be underestimated. “This conviction sends an important message: that no one is above the law, and that survivors deserve to be listened to, believed, and supported.” Holder is due to be sentenced on 7 May at Bristol Crown Court. Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Related topics Superdry Gloucestershire Cheltenham More on the story Rape accused said ‘I’m not going home’, court told Published 3 days ago Superdry co-founder tells rape trial he had consent Published 2 days ago Superdry co-founder accused of raping woman Published 4 days ago From other local news sites Rabbi reacts to attack on Jewish men weeks after landmark city service External Cotswold Journal Serious crash shuts major A-road with drivers warned to avoid area External Gloucestershire Gazette Job-loss fears as well-known pub and restaurant at historic site faces closure External Gloucestershire Gazette 14 fabulous photos of May Day sunrise on Painswick Beacon External Stroud News and Journal New Stroud town centre food business opens External Stroud News and Journal Travellers set up illegal encampment on Cotswold park External Cotswold Journal Information about BBC links to other news sites Top stories Polanski apologises for sharing post criticising police Published 3 hours ago Trump tells Congress ceasefire means he does not need their approval for Iran war Published 27 minutes ago Golders Green stabbing suspect in court on three charges of attempted murder Published 5 hours ago More to explore What the Renters’ Rights Act means for tenants and landlords ‘Dreams come true’ for singer joining Lady Gaga on Devil Wears Prada soundtrack Is the UK heading for another drought this summer? Attribution Weather How did Banksy put up a statue in central London? The struggle to get hold of medication in England is set to get worse Weekly quiz: Who walked off the I’m A Celebrity live final? ‘There were letters I didn’t want to open’: Rise in unpaid debt court cases May’s full ‘Flower Moon’ will light up the sky on Friday 1 May Attribution Weather Sign up for the InDepth newsletter with Emma Barnett and John Simpson loading elsewhere stories Most read 1 Trump tells Congress ceasefire means he does not need their approval for Iran war 2 Zayn Malik cancels US tour and cuts UK dates after hospital bed photo shared 3 French PM fuels row with trip to buy baguettes 4 Polanski apologises for sharing post criticising police 5 Elon Musk’s latest Tesla pay valued at $158bn – but he can’t pocket it 6 Superdry co-founder guilty of rape 7 Woman charged over fatal Wimbledon school crash 8 Trump says he will hike tariffs on EU cars to 25% 9 King Charles visits Bermuda in first British overseas territory trip 10 The Real Greek rescued by Cote Brasserie-owner BBC News Services On your mobile On smart speakers Get news alerts Contact BBC News A century of the broadcasting legend Sir David Attenborough reveals the hidden world of gardens Attribution iPlayer WatchlistAdd Secret Garden to your Watchlist in iPlayer The epic series celebrates our amazing natural world Attribution iPlayer WatchlistAdd Planet Earth to your Watchlist in iPlayer Discover the surprising wildlife of London Attribution iPlayer WatchlistAdd Wild London to your Watchlist in iPlayer Explore life from primitive cells to plants and animals Attribution iPlayer WatchlistAdd Life on Earth to your Watchlist in iPlayer Home News Sport Weather iPlayer Sounds Bitesize CBBC CBeebies Food Terms of Use About the BBC Privacy Policy Cookies Accessibility Help Parental Guidance Contact the BBC Make an editorial complaint BBC emails for you Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.” https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx2gwpe9evo#:~:text=BBC%20Homepage,to%20external%20linking.