Woman raped by Superdry co-founder James Holder speaks out
A woman who was raped by James Holder, co-founder of Superdry, has spoken publicly about the experience of continuing to face him at work after the attack.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A woman who was raped by James Holder, the co-founder of the fashion brand Superdry, has spoken publicly for the first time about having to continue working with him after the attack.
Holder, who left Superdry in 2016, was the woman's boss at another business he had launched. The rape happened after a night out with colleagues at a bar in Cheltenham. The woman told the BBC that Holder followed her into her apartment and raped her. She said she was then forced to see him in the office the following week, where he spoke to her as if nothing had happened.
She described Holder as a man who was 'accountable to no one' and said his position of power made him 'incredibly dangerous in a work environment'. She compared the situation to 'David and Goliath', saying she feared she would lose her livelihood if she spoke out.
Holder was convicted of rape in 2022 and is now serving an eight-year prison sentence. The woman said she wants him to be remembered as a rapist, not as a successful businessman. 'Why celebrate somebody who's committed a crime? So what, he's the founder of a brand, essentially he is a criminal,' she said.
Police have said the woman's bravery may have prevented other women from becoming victims of Holder's sexual violence.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Holder was convicted of rape and sentenced to eight years in prison. | |
| James Holder raped a woman after a work drinks event in Cheltenham. | |
| The woman had to face Holder at work the week after the rape. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the victim's personal account of the assault and its aftermath, including the power imbalance at work. It uses footage of Holder's self-promotional video and police interview to contrast his public persona with his criminal conviction. The tone is sympathetic to the victim and highlights her courage in speaking out.
- “He was accountable to no one, if that makes sense. He had free reign of his own behaviours.”
- “David and Goliath? Yeah, basically, yeah.”
- “As a rapist because that's what he is.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.