James Holder

James Holder

54, Male Custodial - 8y 2026-05-07

Offender ID: c9fbaf26-58e8-4365-a623-9b8abb3e5590

Offence Summary

James Holder, co-founder of Superdry, was convicted of raping a woman after a night out drinking and was jailed for eight years.

Full Description

James Holder, the 54-year-old co-founder of the fashion brand Superdry, was convicted of rape and sentenced to eight years in prison at Bristol Crown Court.

The court heard that Holder had gone back to the victim’s home following a night out drinking. He went to the toilet and then fell asleep on her bed, snoring. When he woke, he beckoned the woman—who had been trying to sleep in the lounge—into the bedroom and raped her.

Holder denied the offence, claiming the sexual activity had been consensual, but was found guilty by a jury at Cirencester Courthouse. On 7 May 2026, Recorder David Chidgey, sitting at Bristol Crown Court, sentenced him to eight years’ imprisonment, describing the offence as “a despicable piece of sexual violence”.

The judge told Holder: “It was about entitlement, it was about your sense of entitlement and your sense of doing what you wanted and your casual disregard for the victim’s absolute right to say what she wanted to do with her own body.” Holder appeared via video link from HMP Hewell and showed no reaction as the sentence was passed.

The case was prosecuted in England and the sentencing took place at Bristol Crown Court.

Case Details

Sentence Length: 8 years (Custodial)

Expected Release: September 2031
Guideline: two-thirds served for sentences ≥4 years; half otherwise (England & Wales). Estimates only.

Full Sentence End: May 2034
If served in full. Estimates only.

Name heritage (predicted origin)

Country: United Kingdom

Confidence: 92%

Source: standard.co.uk

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