Superdry co-founder James Holder 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 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. 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