Superdry co-founder handed eight-year jail sentence for raping woman

He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court today, where the judge said he was responsible for "a despicable piece of sexual violence."

Gloucester Crown Court was told last week, he and a friend had gone to the woman's house uninvited after a night at a bar in Cheltenham.

The founder of the fashion chain went to the toilet before taking a nap on her bed.

He then beckoned the woman, who was trying to sleep in the lounge and raped her in the early hours of May 7 2022.

The victim said in evidence that she was crying and asking the man to stop, but he continued.

In a statement read to the court, his victim said he had taken her "choice, dignity and body".

"What you did that day has followed me, it has cast shadows where there should be light," she added.

The victim was able to escape from the bedroom and Holder left a short time after.

Holder denied rape, but was charged by a jury of seven men and five women on May 1 at Gloucester Crown Court, sitting in Cirencester.

He claimed the sexual activity had been consensual.

Recorder David Chidgey told Holder: "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 showed no emotion as the sentence was passed.

A witness had told the court that she had called two separate taxis, one for Holder, and one for the victim, however Holder decided to get into the the victim's taxi, which was headed for her home.

Recorder Chidgey told Holder "this was perhaps the first evidence the jury heard which spoke to your attitude and intentions".

The married father of two was acquitted of assault by penetration.

Holder set up Superdry with co-founderJulian Dunkerton in 2003.

The fashion brand has gone on to become one of the staples of the British high street.

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