Woman Reveals She Was Raped by Former Boss James Holder
A woman, identified as Gemma to protect her identity, has spoken to the BBC about being raped by James Holder, co-founder of Superdry, while she was employed by him. The incident occurred in 2022, and Gemma had to return to work and face Holder shortly after the attack.
The assault took place in Gemma's home after Holder entered her taxi uninvited following work drinks on a Friday night. She described the fear she experienced returning to work the following Monday at a new business Holder had established after leaving Superdry in 2016.
"Yeah, he did. Very much like he would have spoken to me the week before. As if nothing had happened."
Holder, 54, was sentenced in May to eight years in prison for the rape, which the court described as a "despicable piece of sexual violence." Support is available for those affected by the details of this story through the BBC Action Line.
Gemma's Working Relationship with Holder
Due to anonymity rights, Gemma's employment with Holder had not been previously reported. In her first media interview, she disclosed that she initially worked for Holder at Superdry's Cheltenham office before moving to another company he launched.
While at Superdry, Gemma had no direct contact with Holder, who she described as having a "celebrity-like" status. However, upon joining his new venture, she noticed Holder's increasing controlling behavior and a workplace culture intolerant of mistakes, where employees were constantly on alert.
"It certainly was a way of trying to command respect and a sort of allegiance to his agenda, for sure,"
she said.
The Night of the Assault
The rape occurred in May 2022 after colleagues went for drinks at Gin and Juice in Cheltenham. Gemma described the evening as initially normal, but Holder's behavior changed later in the night.
When taxis were called, Holder unexpectedly entered Gemma's taxi instead of his own. The plan was for Gemma to be dropped at her home and Holder to continue to his own, but Holder ended up at Gemma's residence.
Holder, who is married with two children, initially fell asleep on Gemma's bed but later woke and summoned her. When she declined, he forcibly pulled her onto the bed and raped her.
During Holder's sentencing, Gemma told the court he had taken her choice, her dignity and her body.
Returning to Work After the Assault
The following morning, Gemma felt fearful about her future, expressing concern about the uncertainty of returning to work under Holder's supervision.
"He's the person [who is] paying your wage every month," she said. "You don't know what Monday will bring. You don't know what Tuesday or Wednesday will bring. And for me, it was kind of more of a moment of being completely destabilised."
Gemma described being in "survival mode" upon returning to work, noting that Holder spoke to her as if nothing had occurred.
"It just shows him for what he is. It's a power trip."
She added that Holder was "accountable to no one" and had unchecked freedom over his behavior, a dynamic she compared to issues seen in the movie industry.
"That sort of entitlement because they are in a position of power is incredibly dangerous in a work environment."
Concerns About Reporting and Industry Culture
Gemma initially feared reporting Holder due to his prominence in the industry and the potential impact on her career prospects.
"I felt there was certainly a risk that this would affect my future prospects in finding work,"
she said.
Days after the assault, the business went into liquidation, which Gemma described as a "blessing in disguise" because it freed her from Holder's control and allowed her to report the crime without fear of losing her job.
Gemma believes Holder's actions were enabled by the culture within the fashion industry.
Research by industry publication Drapers last year indicated that sexual harassment is a common issue in fashion retail, often involving senior colleagues abusing power over subordinates.
"The leadership structure of most fashion brands are quite male dominated and then a lot of the working people are female,"
Gemma explained.
"There's a level of control and there's a level of power and trust that just gets completely exploited.
"It has been a culture within the industry that I've seen and there is a level of misogynistic behaviour in the industry."
Gemma's Message and Future
Gemma expressed a desire to empower other victims 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."
Detective Constable Elle MacLeod, who led the investigation for Gloucestershire Police, stated that Gemma's actions may have prevented others from becoming victims and emphasized that no one is above the law regardless of status or wealth.
A spokesperson for Superdry noted that Holder resigned from the company in 2016 and ended consultancy work in 2019, clarifying that the 2022 incident occurred long after his involvement with Superdry had ended.
With the court case concluded, Gemma said she feels a "sense of freedom" to move forward with her life plans.
Asked how she would like Holder to be remembered now, Gemma added: "As a rapist - because that is what he is."
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