TWO depraved killers who filmed their rape of a drugged and defenceless young father were facing life sentences today (Friday) for his murder.

Dylan Brister, formerly of Methil, and Cameron Allan, from Dunfermline, spiked the victim's drinks leaving him unconscious, before subjecting him to a sexual assault that was recorded on a mobile phone.

Father-of-three Calum Simpson, 24. died from intoxication with the Class C drug Etizolam and alcohol following the attack on him at Brister's home in Methil.

His youngest child was born 11 days earlier.

Graphic footage recovered from Allan's phone was shown to a jury during the trial of the pair for murder at the High Court in Edinburgh along with photographs of horrific injuries sustained by the dead man in the attack on him.

The trial judge, Lord Harrower, told jurors after they unanimously convicted the pair of the sexual assault, rape and murder: "The evidence has been of the most harrowing nature that this court has ever had the misfortune to listen to."

He said that in light of the sensitive nature of the trial any juror would be entitled to use counselling services if required and excused them from further jury service for the rest of their lives.

The judge told Brister and Allan that there was only one sentence for murder, a life sentence, but he would adjourn for background reports on the pair until next month.

Advocate depute Angela Gray told jurors: "What you saw on that footage was rape. It was sexual assault. It was committed by both accused acting together."

The prosecutor said: "This is a plan between both accused to drug Calum Simpson to make sure he does not get up. They drugged him for their sexual gratification. That drugging was wickedly reckless to the consequences and in so doing they had a complete disregard for the safety and the life of Calum Simpson."

She said the film was "a glimpse into the depravity" and the dynamic between Brister and Allan.

During the footage Allan could be heard saying to his accomplice: "At least he is still breathing."

The court heard that Allan and Brister had been seeking to recruit a man to make up a threesome with them but efforts to find a participant failed.

Allan was searching on the dating app Grindr, but Brister was aware of the plan which involved seeking a "submissive".

One man who met Allan at an inaugural Pride event in Dundee was told they would be "up for" choking him and wanted to tie him up and abuse him but he chose not to become involved.

Ms Gray said: "And then Calum Simpson, a complete stranger, arrives by chance."

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

Ms Gray said: "There was no evidence that Calum Simpson had any homosexual tendencies."

Brister, 27, formerly of Herriot Crescent, Methil, and Allan, who will be 21 tomorrow, of Berrylaw Place, Dunfermline, had denied murdering Mr Simpson on November 2 and 3 in 2021.

They were accused of causing him to ingest tablets containing Etizolam in alcoholic drinks without his knowledge or consent, resulting in him losing consciousness and failing to give or get medical help for the victim.

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

During the trial the pair tried to blame each other for spiking drinks with the controlled drug Etizolam, which is commonly found in so-called 'street valium', but is up to ten times more potent than diazepam. It is now involved in a substantial number of drug deaths in Scotland. Valium is one of the brand names for diazepam.

Brister claimed that Allan revealed to him after the victim died that he put the tablets into drink for Mr Simpson, but Allan told the court that he saw his ex-fiance put drugs in drinks destined for the victim.

Brister, who received almost £1,200 a month in benefits, had won more than £20,000 gambling and bought 1,000 tablets for £200.

He claimed that he believed they were genuine diazepam which came in proper packaging and a pharmacy carrier bag.

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

He said the woman supplying them warned Brister they were strong and added: "That's why she gave the warning, someone had already died from taking them."

Forensic evidence indicated that glasses, including a champagne-style flute and skull shotglass, were spiked with Etizolam before the victim drank from them.

Ms Gray said to jurors: "I invite you to conclude that the drinks laced with the Etizolam in the shot glass and the flute glass have contributed materially to the death of Calum Simpson."

The court heard that after Mr Simpson was found dead Allan told police in a statement that he said a prayer for him.

He claimed that he had "bad sexual thoughts because of what's happened to me".

During an interview with police, Brister told officers: "We are not rapists. We are young boys that like a bit of fun."

An experienced medical examiner who saw the injuries inflicted on Mr Simpson told the court: "If the person was awake and fully conscious it would be very painful."

The doctor also viewed the video footage and said the victim was unconscious, his breathing was affected and he was snoring.

The court heard evidence that Brister had previously spiked the drink of a woman, Chloe Anderson, with diazepam in 2018 and put tablets in the mouth of Stephanie Cooper without her consent which she swallowed and left her feeling dizzy and "spaced out" at his home.

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

He said he had been taking a lot of drugs and was drinking heavily and gave tablets to both Mr Stewart and Mr Simpson, but maintained he did not spike drinks on the night of the murder.

He added: "I was very, very out my face."

Brister said: " I won't dispute the fact that Calum passed out and we carried on. I didn't spike that boy, but yes I gave him drugs.

"We raped him and continued to have sex. It is what it is, disgusting. It should never have happened. I am not going to make excuses," he said.

He maintained that Allan told him he put five diazepam tablets in the victim's drink and he called him "a f****** idiot".

He said: "I genuinely thought they were diazepam, not Etizolam. If I knew there was Etizolam in those tablets I would not have taken them."

Brister said he met Allan on Grindr after his 16th birthday and they began a relationship but he called off a plan for the pair to marry on the day of the wedding.

Allan said it was one day before he moved in with Brister and started having sex after they began a relationship.

Allan, who also received £1,200 a month in benefits, said he was diagnosed with an attachment disorder after watching his mother die in a car accident when he was three. He claimed he was now disgusted that he took videos.

His counsel Michael Anderson KC asked him what he thought had happened to Mr Simpson and he replied: "That he died from the drugs that Dylan gave him."

He claimed that the victim was conscious and consenting when he was tied up by Brister and him. He was asked why he continued after the victim passed out and said he did not know he was doing something wrong at the time.

He told police that he had "bad sex thoughts" because of what happened to him when he was younger and added: "This is the first time I have acted on those thoughts."

Allan said he was in love with Brister but claimed the older man ill-treated him.

He said: "I was treated more like a dog than a servant. He was just a violent, angry man."

He maintained that although he had lied in the past to protect people and himself, he was telling the truth in court.

Allan, who was on bail, was remanded in custody following the verdicts.

Brister was already in prison awaiting trial.

The pair were told they will be on the sex offenders' register.

Detective Inspector Scott Roxburgh, Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Our thoughts are very much with Calum’s family and friends and I hope that the conviction brings them some kind of closure. 

“This was a particularly horrific and sickening attack on a young man who died after being drugged and sexually attacked. Both men will now face the consequences of their actions. 

“I would like to thank officers who carried out enquiries as this was a complex and harrowing investigation. 

“Violence has no place in our communities and Police Scotland is committed to bringing those responsible for such crimes to justice.”