Depraved pair drugged, raped and murdered a stranger introduced to them by a mutual friend for ‘sexual gratification’

Two perverted murderers drugged and raped a complete stranger. The stranger died after strong narcotics were spiked in his drinks.

Father-of-three Calum Simpson, 24, never regained consciousness after being poisoned with the class C drug Etizolam and alcohol. His youngest child was born 11 days early.

Dylan Brister, 27, and Cameron Allan, 21, were yesterday told they face life imprisonment for the murder of Mr Simpson at Brister’s home in Methil, Fife.

The killers were looking for a man to abuse before Mr Simpson showed up at their home with a mutual friend.

Shocking footage from Allan’s phone was shown to a jury at the High Court trial in Edinburgh, along with photographs of the horrific injuries the dead man sustained in the attack.

The trial judge, Lord Harrower, told jurors after they unanimously convicted the pair of sexual assault, rape and murder: ‘The evidence was of the most appalling nature this court has ever heard.’

He said that given the sensitive nature of the trial, each juror would have the right to access counseling services if necessary and would be exempt from further jury service for the rest of their lives.

The judge told Brister and Allan there was only one penalty for murder, life imprisonment, but he would adjourn the case until next month to allow background checks to be conducted on the pair.

Defence lawyer Angela Gray told jurors: ‘This is a plan between the two defendants to drug Calum Simpson to ensure he doesn’t get up again. They drugged him for their sexual gratification. That drugging was completely reckless of the consequences and in doing so they had a complete disregard for the safety and life of Calum Simpson.’

She said the film provided “a glimpse into the depravity” and dynamic between Brister and Allan.

During the footage, Allan could be heard saying to his accomplice: “At least he’s still breathing.”

The court heard that Allan and Brister tried to recruit a man to have a threesome with them, but attempts to find a participant were unsuccessful.

The High Court in Edinburgh, where Dylan Brister, 27, and Cameron Allan, 21, were warned they face life sentences for the murder of Mr Simpson at Brister’s home in Methil, Fife

A man Allan met at an early Pride event in Dundee was told they were going to strangle him, tie him up and beat him, but he decided not to take part.

Mrs Gray said: ‘And then, by chance, Calum Simpson arrived, a complete stranger.’

Mr Simpson arrived at the house with a friend, Dylan Stewart, who knew the pair, but later left, leaving him alone.

Mrs Gray said: ‘There was no evidence that Calum Simpson had homosexual tendencies.’

The duo deny killing Simpson by sedating him without his knowledge, causing him to lose consciousness and fail to provide or obtain medical attention.

The predatory pair were also convicted of sexually abusing and raping their victim after he was unconscious. The victim’s wrists were tied with rope during the attack.

Brister, who was receiving almost £1,200 a month in benefits, had won more than £20,000 from gambling and bought 1,000 pills for £200.

He claimed that it was genuine diazepam, which was in good packaging and in a chemist’s bag.

But Allan, who said he was present at the handover of the drugs, said they were drug strips in a freezer bag and came with a warning.

He said the woman who delivered them had warned Brister they were strong, adding: “That’s why she gave the warning, someone had already died from taking them.”

Forensic examination revealed that Etizolam had been added to glasses before the victim drank from them, including a champagne glass and a shot glass containing skulls.

A senior coroner who saw Mr Simpson’s injuries told the court: ‘If the person was awake and fully conscious it would be very painful.’

The court heard evidence that in 2018 Brister laced a woman’s drink with diazepam and put tablets in another woman’s mouth without her consent.

Brister told the court he suffered from complex post-traumatic stress disorder and a personality disorder and was receiving anti-psychotic medication.

Brister said, “We raped him and continued to have sex. It is what it is, disgusting. It should never have happened. I’m not going to make excuses,” he said.

Allan told police he had “bad sex thoughts” because of what happened to him when he was younger, adding: “This is the first time I’ve ever put those thoughts into action.”

Allan said he was in love with Brister, but claimed the older man abused him. He said: ‘I was treated more like a dog than a servant. He was just a violent, angry man.’

Allan, who was on bail, was remanded in custody after the verdicts. Brister was already in jail awaiting trial. The couple were told they would be put on the sex offenders register.

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