Superdry co-founder jailed for 8 years after being found guilty of rape
James Holder, 54, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court
Last updated 7th May 2026
The co-founder of clothing brand Superdry, has been jailed for eight years after he was found guilty of raping a woman after a night out in Cheltenham.
James Holder, 54, from Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire, was sentenced today (7 May)after being convicted by a jury last week at Cirencester court house.
Holder's case involved an incident from May 7th, 2022, when he attacked a woman in her home.
Court proceedings revealed that Holder and an acquaintance had returned to the woman's home uninvited.
Holder was cleared of assault by penetration but convicted of rape.
After a short nap, Holder allegedly beckoned the woman to her bedroom, where she was attacked.
The victim described the encounter in court, denying suggestions that she initiated the sexual activity.
Holder denied rape and maintained that everything was consensual, saying the woman kissed him first before they proceeded to have consensual sex, stopping when she complained of pain.
James Haskell, the prosecuting lawyer, challenged Holder on his conduct that evening, suggesting he left the flat due to a sudden realisation of his actions.
Holder refuted these claims, stating he left because he had been out longer than planned.
Recorder David Chidgey, sitting at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday, jailed Holder for eight years for the offence, describing it as “a despicable piece of sexual violence”.
The judge said: “It was about entitlement, it was about your sense of entitlement and your sense of doing what you wanted and your causal disregard for the victim’s absolute right to say what she wanted to do with her own body.”
Holder, who appeared via video link from HMP Hewell wearing a grey sweatshirt and jogging bottoms, did not react as the sentence was passed.