"Survivor's Harrowing Encounter: Assaulted by Superdry Co-Founder in My Own Home After Work Drinks, Then Confronted Him at the Office"

THE woman who was raped by Superdry co-founder James Holder has bravely spoken out – describing her situation as “David and Goliath”.

Gemma, not her real name, was after attending work drinks with Holder – who was her boss at the time.

Holder co-founded Superdry at a market stall in Cheltenham in 2003 Credit: Getty Holder pulled Gemma onto her own bed and raped her Credit: Gloucestershire Constabulary

Gemma told how she feared her return to work and described being in “survival mode” as she was forced to face her attacker in the office.

But married dad-of-two Holder – who had pulled Gemma onto her own bed and raped her – carried on “as if nothing had happened”, she said.

Gemma heartbreakingly confessed she felt like she could not report her boss because she was worried about her future work prospects.

But she was given a “blessing in disguise” when the firm went into liquidation days later and she was free to go to cops, she told the BBC .

Gemma told how she feared her return to work and described being in ‘survival mode’ Credit: BBC The tycoon also described himself as ‘old-school and chivalrous’ towards women Credit: Gloucestershire Constabulary

Holder has now been jailed for eight years – and say Gemma’s bravery has potentially prevented more people from becoming victims.

The horror unfolded on May 7, 2022, following a staff night out at Gin and Juice in Cheltenham, .

Gemma said there was initially “nothing unusual” about the evening, but she later noticed a “shift” in the multi-millionaire’s behaviour.

And as she entered her taxi, Holder also got in the vehicle uninvited, despite another cab being called for him.

Gemma says Holder oversaw a brutal work culture Credit: Gloucestershire Constabulary

Despite telling the driver he would be going to a different address, he followed Gemma into her home.

She told how she had moved into the living room after Holder fell asleep on her bed – but he started calling out for her.

Gloucester Crown heard how Holder appeared in the doorway before asking her if she could show him back to the bedroom.

After she refused to join him, he then pulled Gemma onto the bed and raped her in a sick attack.

Gemma eventually managed to escape and left the bedroom, with Holder leaving her home not long after.

She has since opened up on her feelings of dread as she recalled walking into the office the following morning.

Gemma said: “He’s the person paying your wage every month.

“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.”

But as he spoke to her at work, there was nothing different about his demeanour or behaviour.

Gemma added: “It just shows him for what he is. It’s a power trip.

“He had free reign of his own behaviours and that’s not unique to just this [industry].

“That sort of entitlement because they are in a position of power is incredibly dangerous in a work environment.”

In his evidence, Holder claimed he went into “extreme physical and mental shock” when he found out he was being accused of rape.

He added: “I went into complete meltdown, a nosebleed, and bawling like a baby.”

The tycoon also described himself as “old-school and chivalrous” towards women and said that he “adored sex”.

Gemma first worked under Holder at Superdry, where she compared him to a “celebrity” and said she had very little direct contact with him.

She then moved and worked with him at the new company he launched after leaving the fashion firm in 2016.

But Gemma says Holder oversaw a brutal work culture, with no room for error and colleagues constantly being on “high alert”.

Following the court case, she described having a “sense of freedom” and told how she wanted others to feel empowered to report their attackers.

Gemma added: “I did not ask for what happened to me. That was not on me. That is completely his responsibility.

“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.”