A fraudstar who pretended he would leave his wife for another woman to con her out of £30,000 has been jailed for 15 months.
Alexander Shields also told Lynn McFarlane his partner was trying to take his daughter abroad.
However, the 26-year-old didn't have a wife or daughter and was instead looking for cash to fund his gambling habit.
Appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday for sentencing, Shields was told: "Your behaviour in this matter was not only dishonest it was calculating and callous, taking advantage of the trust given to you by the complainer."
At an earlier appearance, Shields admitted coming up with the scheme at the start of last year to con his co-worker at Scottish water on Edinburgh's Buckstone Terrace.
Prosecutores said he also told Ms McFarlane he owed money to loan sharks who were threatening him - and sending text messages to him which contained threats against her.
The court heard Ms McFarlane had expressed some doubts about his claims, but Shields always managed to reassure her that he wanted to be with her as soon as his matrimonial problems were resolved.
The pair were never involved in a romantic relationship and Ms McFarlane eventually went to police after Shields, from Bathgate, stopped working at Scottish Water.
Fiscal depute Ruth Ross-Davie said Ms McFarlane was naive and inexperienced with relationships. She had taken out loans and had been left with an overdraft of £6,000.
Defence agent Peter O'Neill said: "This offence was rooted in his gambling addiction.
"He made friends with the woman at work and as their friendship grew he felt comfortable enough to ask her for money.
"He said he didn't always expect to get money but she gave it to him and as an addict does you keep on going until it dries up.
"The story he gave was the story of legal proceedings with his daughter being taken overseas and that he would never see her again.
"People understand that legal fees will go up and up but he used the money for gambling.
"He understood the money given to him was a loan and he always intended to pay it back."
Mr O'Neill added that Shields was "disgusted" with his own behaviour towards a woman who had showed him nothing but kindness. He also claimed Shields was now seeking help for his gambling addiction.
He urged the sheriff to put Shields on probation so he could get a job and pay Ms McFarlane back. However, Sheriff MacKinnon said a custodial sentence was the only option.
First offender Shields will also be on a supervised release order for six months after he has served his jail sentence
