"You chose to take what was never yours – my choice, my dignity, my body. It is four years since you raped me. I have not softened that word to make it easier for you or anyone else to hear. I am still here, still standing, still re-claiming every part of myself you tried to take. The weight of what happened should be yours to carry, not mine."
"What you did to me did not end that day. It has followed me into my relationships, it has cast shadows where there should only be light. I have struggled to see the good in myself at times and at times failed to recognise the value I bring."
"You took advantage of my vulnerability. You entered my home uninvited. You ignored my repeated pleas to stop acting as though you were entitled to continue an attack on my body. My home was violated by your actions."
James Holder, 54, co-founder of clothing company Superdry, was convicted of rape and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. The incident occurred in May 2022 when Holder and a male friend entered the victim's taxi in Cheltenham and went to her flat. Despite the woman's repeated requests to stop and her crying, Holder proceeded with the assault. The victim was intoxicated, making her more vulnerable. Holder claimed the sexual activity was consensual, but a jury found him guilty. The victim delivered an impact statement describing lasting psychological harm, violation of her home, and damage to her relationships and self-worth. The judge denied Holder's bail application, citing him as a flight risk due to his financial resources.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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