A man raped a 12-year-old girl after giving her lemonade laced with street Valium.
Alexander Keenan later claimed the girl sexually assaulted him and got a teenage boy to help him cover up the sex attack which took place in Alloa during May 2018.
The plot included the 40-year-old setting up a “role-play” by posing as a lawyer to get the boy used to the questions he might face.
Keenan denied the accusations during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow but on Thursday he was convicted of raping the child at a house in Clackmannanshire.
He was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.
The court heard how the Keenan attacked the girl – then left to have a cup of tea and a cigarette.
However, he claimed to jurors how he had been asleep in the house when he awoke to find the girl molesting him.
Keenan went on: “I was worse than shocked. I was completely and utterly devastated.
“I was in my own personal hell.”
He said he only learned of the accusations against him via someone else.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell quizzed Keenan on the drug Etizolam later being found in his young victim’s system.
The rapist said he had “no idea” how that happened.
Mr Farrell went on: “You know exactly how – you put it in lemonade.”
Keenan responded: “That’s not true.”
The advocate depute asked: “So, it was she who sexually assaulted you?”
He replied: “I can only go on what I woke up to.”
Keenan also alleged a teenage boy had “volunteered” to support his claims but jurors heard it was Keenan who tried to get the youngster to lie.
Mr Farrell said: “You went as far as to rehearse what would be said by lawyers.
“You would role play this by pretending to be the lawyer asking him questions.
“Did he invent that?”
Keenan: “Yes, totally.”
Keenan, of Alloa, repeatedly shook his head following the guilty verdict.
Judge Alistair Watson told him: “You have been convicted of the rape of a 12-year-old girl – a vile and disgusting crime.
“It would be completely inappropriate meantime for you to remain at liberty.”
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country