Murderer killed two cats in house fire days before drugging and raping young dad

A killer endangered a man’s life by starting a house fire days before he drugged, raped and murdered a young dad in Fife.

Dylan Brister started a blaze at a property in Methil, in Fife, that caused extensive damage and claimed the lives of two cats while he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol on October 23, 2021.

The 29-year-old went on to murder father-of-four Calum Simpson, 24, days later on November 2 and 3 at his home in Methil with his accomplice Cameron Allan.

Brister is currently serving life in prison for the murder and must serve a minimum sentence of 23 years before he is eligible to apply for release on parole.

His co-accused Allan, 22, was also sentenced to life and was told he will be in jail for at least 19 years before he can seek release for the murder.

North East & Tayside

Two men who drugged, raped and murdered young dad jailed for life

The High Court in Edinburgh heard the pair subjected their victim to a serious sexual assault which they recorded on a phone.

A judge has now ordered that Brister should serve a further 32 months in jail, which will be served consecutively to the 23-year punishment part already imposed on him, after he admitted starting the fire.

Brister admitted to wilfully setting fire to a jacket at a property, causing extensive damage, killing two cats and leaving without alerting neighbours to the danger.

Advocate depute Mark Mohammed KC told the High Court in Edinburgh that the occupant of the flat where Brister started the fire was not at home at the time, but an elderly woman was in an adjoining flat.

Brister took off his jacket and set it alight in a bedroom before leaving, resulting in fire and smoke damage. A neighbour made a 999 call and firefighters went into the building wearing breathing apparatus to douse the flames.

The prosecutor said that repairs carried out after the blaze cost approximately £100,000.

Defence counsel Colin Neilson said Brister was intoxicated on a mixture of drink and drugs at the time of the fire and had fallen out with the occupant of the flat.

Judge Norman McFadyen KC said of the fire-raising offence: “This was a totally shocking crime which had very significant consequences.”

He told Brister that he was clearly “a very dangerous man”.

Brister and Allan went on to film their sexual assault on Mr Simpson days later. The victim died from intoxication with Etizolam, sometimes known as “street valium”, and alcohol after he was drugged.

Graphic footage recovered from Allan’s phone was shown to a jury at their trial at the High Court in Edinburgh, along with photos of injuries inflicted on the victim.