Superdry Co-Founder's Trial: Messy Night Out Turns Messy

0:00On April 28, James Holder, the 54-year-old co-founder of Super Dry, is on trial for rape and assault by penetration after a night out, drinking in Sheltonham back in May 2022. Prosecutors say he refused to head home when friends put him in a taxi, instead ending up at the woman's place where the alleged assault happened. No one's disputing that sex took place, but Holder claims it was all consensual. At the bar that night told Gloucester Crown Court, they flagged down a cab for Holder and his buddy to get back to his cotswolds home. But the pair bailed out and jumped into the complainant's taxi instead. A witness even warned the driver there'd be two stops, first dropping her off. Next morning, worried pals checked on the woman and heard her story. She said things started with kissing in her bed, but went further than she wanted, leading to sex she didn't consent to. One friend noted she seemed quiet and distressed, avoiding full details at first. That led to a call to the 111 non-emergency line for advice after rape came up in conversation.

1:02Another witness recalled offering her spare room the night before, but she turned it down while sounding pretty drunk on the phone. Holder from Sheltonham denies all charges and the trials still rolling with more testimony ahead. This case shines a light on what happens when nights outturn messy.