A woman raped by Superdry co-founder James Holder was forced to return to work alongside him just days after the attack, where the multi-millionaire acted as though “nothing had happened”. The victim, identified only as Gemma, has described the experience as a “power trip” driven by Holder’s sense of entitlement, and said she operated in “survival mode” while facing her attacker in the office the following Monday.
Returned to work alongside attacker
Gemma had previously worked for Holder at Superdry before moving to another of his businesses, where she said she became aware of his “controlling behaviour”. She described the work culture as having “no room for mistakes” and said Holder expected “a sort of allegiance to his agenda”. Speaking about the decision to return to work with him after the rape, she said: “It just shows him for what he is. It’s a power trip. He had free reign of his own behaviours and that’s not unique to just this [industry], you think about with the movie industry as well over the last few years. That sort of entitlement because they are in a position of power is incredibly dangerous in a work environment.”
Holder, 54, co-founded the global apparel brand Superdry in 2003 with Julian Dunkerton, having started his fashion career selling T-shirts at BMX events as a teenager and later founding the skateboarder label Bench. He was made bankrupt in 1998 while running Bench. Superdry’s profile soared after David Beckham was seen wearing the brand in 2005, and the company was floated on the stock exchange in 2010. Holder resigned from his executive role as brand and design director in June 2016, though he retained a significant shareholding. Superdry has confirmed he had no operational role at the time of the 2022 offence, with his consultancy work ending in 2019. After leaving Superdry, Holder launched the premium menswear brand Jack1t in 2019, which later entered insolvency proceedings in 2022. He was also involved in the now-dissolved James Holder Limited.
The night of the attack
The rape occurred in May 2022 in Gemma’s home in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, after a night out with colleagues. A group went for drinks at a bar in the town centre, and Gemma noticed that as the evening progressed, Holder’s behaviour “shifted”. At the end of the evening, a friend called Gemma a taxi while another had been called for Holder, but he entered her car uninvited. The initial plan was for him to get out at her address and continue to his own home — which he shared with his wife, Charlotte, a lawyer, and their two children — but instead he entered her house and fell asleep on her bed. Despite Gemma sleeping in the lounge, Holder woke and beckoned her into the bedroom. When she refused, he pulled her onto the bed and raped her. He was intoxicated at the time. In court, Gemma told him: “You entered my home uninvited. You ignored my repeated pleas to stop, acting as though you were entitled to continue your attack on my body.” She said her home, where she should have been safe, was “completely violated”.
Conviction and victim’s plea
Gemma was initially afraid to report Holder to the police given his “prevalence within the industry” and his position as her boss. She described it as a “blessing in disguise” when his business went into liquidation days later, which gave her the courage to come forward. It took four years for a jury to unanimously convict him of rape. The trial took place at Gloucester Crown Court, sitting in Cirencester, where Holder was found guilty on May 1, 2026. He was acquitted of a separate charge of assault by penetration. The judge, Recorder David Chidgey, paid tribute to the woman’s bravery for giving evidence in person and without a screen. On May 7, 2026, at Bristol Crown Court, Holder was sentenced to eight years in prison. The judge described the offence as “a despicable piece of sexual violence” and noted Holder’s “sense of entitlement” and “causal disregard for the victim’s absolute right to say what she wanted to do with her own body”. Holder was refused bail before sentencing because he was considered a flight risk due to his “significant resources”, and appeared via video link from HMP Hewell. His barrister had requested bail for him to “put his affairs in order” and say goodbye to his family. During the trial, Holder was asked if he was used to doing precisely what he wanted, to which he replied: “No, I am not, actually.” He had one previous conviction for drink-driving in 2023.
Alex Ward from the Crown Prosecution Service said the case shows juries can find defendants guilty of rape even when it is one person’s word against another, and encouraged victims to report assaults, stating: “your voice matters and you will be listened to.” A Superdry spokesperson confirmed that Holder resigned as a director and employee in 2016, with consultancy work ending in 2019, and noted that the offence took place several years after his association with the retailer had ended. Superdry was delisted from the London Stock Exchange in 2024 after announcing a drop in sales and has rebranded as Superdry & Co.
Gemma said she hopes other women feel empowered to report sexual assaults. “I did not ask for what happened to me. That was not on me. That is completely his responsibility,” she said. “But I know a lot of women feel like they had a level of responsibility of what happened to them and that’s completely wrong.” Asked how she would like Holder to be remembered now, she added: “As a rapist — because that is what he is.”
