Men jailed for rape and murder of a father in Fife

Cameron Allan, 21, of Berrylaw Place in Dunfermline, and Dylan Brister, 27, formerly of Herriot Crescent in Methil, spiked Calum Simpson's drinks, leaving him unconscious before subjecting him to a horrifying sexual assault that was recorded on a mobile phone.

They then murdered him.

Father-of-three Mr Simpson, 24, died from intoxication of drugs and alcohol following the attack at Brister's home in Methil.

The victim's youngest child was born 11 days earlier.

Brister and Allan were found guilty in July following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. Today at the High Court in Dundee, Brister was ordered to serve a minimum of 23 years in custody.

Allan was sentenced to a minimum of 19 years imprisonment. Both their names have been added to sex offenders register for an indefinite period.

Moira Orr, who leads on homicide and major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, said:  “The depraved and predatory actions of Dylan Brister and Cameron Allan have robbed a family of their loving son, father, partner, nephew and grandson.

“They showed a blatant disregard for their victim’s safety and life by spiking his drink with drugs before subjecting him to the most harrowing sexual abuse.

“We have worked hard to deliver justice for Calum Simpson and his family, who continue to deal with the devastation and trauma of losing their loved one.

“The COPFS team used every tool at our disposal to ensure these two men faced the consequences of their despicable actions. 

“Our thoughts remain with Calum’s family and friends.”

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Graphic footage recovered from Allan's phone was shown to the jury during the trial, along with photographs of horrific injuries sustained by the dead man.

The trial judge, Lord Harrower, excused the jury from further jury services for the rest of their lives and said: "The evidence has been of the most harrowing nature that this court has ever had the misfortune to listen to."

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

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 a 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."

The pair spiked his drinks with Etizolam - commonly found in so-called 'street valium' - without his knowledge or consent, resulting in him losing consciousness and then sexually assaulted and raped him. The victim's wrists were bound with rope during the attack.

During the trial the pair tried to blame each other for spiking the drinks.

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

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

He 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."

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.

Detective Inspector Scott Roxburgh, senior investigating officer, had 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."