The fashion brand’s co-founder has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman after an evening in the Cotswolds region, according to court proceedings.

James Holder, 54, told the court the woman began the kiss, and he understood her intentions clearly.

The court heard that the wealthy businessman held conventional beliefs about treating women respectfully and valued physical relationships.

The accused had spent the evening of May 6, 2022, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and had organised travel back to his rural property in the Cotswolds along with a male friend.

However, the pair got into the complainant’s car and drove to her flat, where she claims she was sexually assaulted by the business executive.

The defendant told the jury he left the original taxi because he did not want the night to end.

At the woman’s home, she offered him a drink, which he refused, put on music before he used the bathroom, and then fell asleep on her bed.

The defendant said he awoke and went to the living room, where his friend was lying on the settee, and the complainant was awake, sitting in a chair.

He asked whether everything was fine, and she confirmed it was, the court was told.

He recounted that as she came toward him at that moment, they began kissing. He estimated it lasted no more than five minutes. They went to the bedroom, which was about a minute away, went in and continued kissing.

Holder said he was wearing very tight trousers that required both hands to take off, so he could not have held the complainant at the same time.

He said the woman performed oral sex on him before they had agreed sexual activity, which stopped when she said she was in pain.

When asked whether the woman cried at any stage, he answered that he did not see any crying or sobbing.

About leaving shortly afterwards, he said he had stayed out much longer than intended and needed to get back. He let himself out. She was asleep on the bed.

Defence counsel asked about his view of consent, to which he answered that he believed in complete and full consent.

The court heard Holder learned of the assault allegation in November 2022 during a police interview.

Recalling that interview, he said he suffered significant physical and mental anguish. The allegation felt completely alien and utterly contrary to what actually happened. He became extremely distressed, had a nosebleed, and burst into tears, describing it as pure shock.

In that conversation, Holder told officers he was old-fashioned and polite in how he treated women, and also someone who valued sexual relationships highly.

The prosecutor asked whether he had acted considerately toward her that evening.

He replied that absolutely, he looked after her welfare throughout the whole evening.

When asked whether his claimed instinct to protect women was evident that night, he said at the first sign of any problem, he stopped straight away. He would view that as showing a protective character.

The prosecutor asked why he got into the complainant’s car and went to her home without discussing it with her first.

The prosecutor asked whether he normally acts purely on his own wishes.

Holder answered not at all.

The prosecutor suggested the real reason he wanted to go back to the flat was because he saw a chance for sex.

Holder answered no.

When asked to describe how the encounter began, he said she put her tongue in his mouth, and it was completely obvious what she wanted.

The prosecutor proposed that he saw something he wanted and took it because when he reached the living room doorway, he asked something like what was going on, is everything alright, specifically to draw her toward the bedroom, which is why he said can you show me. It ended when she managed to escape from the bed.

Holder responded that was wrong. She quickly fell into a deep sleep. He got dressed and left.

The defendant was asked whether the truth was that he suddenly understood what he had done and tried to leave the flat immediately.

Holder replied that was not true.

The defendant, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, faces charges of rape and assault by penetration.

The case continues.