James Holder, the co-founder of fashion brand Superdry, has been jailed for eight years after being found guilty of raping a woman following a night out in Cheltenham, UK. The incident took place in May 2022 after Holder and a friend went to the woman’s home, where he later raped her after waking up from a short sleep in her bedroom.

Prosecutors said the woman told the court she was crying and repeatedly asked Holder to stop during the assault, but he denied the allegation and claimed the sexual activity was consensual.

A jury found Holder guilty of rape, but he was cleared of a separate charge of assault by penetration.

In a statement read in court, the woman said Holder had taken away her “choice, dignity and body”, and Judge David Chidgey described the attack as a “despicable piece of sexual violence” that showed a sense of “entitlement” and disregard for the victim’s right to make decisions about her own body.

The court will proceed with post-sentencing procedures, and Holder will serve his 8-year sentence, having shown no reaction to the verdict during the video link from prison.