Romeo Andrew Taylor wooed a married woman by sending text messages on her mobile phone which began "Hello, sexy".
He then persuaded Janet Templer, 39, to swindle her company out of £17,000 which helped pay off his debts and enjoy a sunshine holiday abroad, Basildon Crown Court heard.
Templer was flattered by the text messages and the attention she received from 31-year-old Taylor, who was nearly eight years younger.
After he presented her with a tale of woe about being hard-up, she agreed to transfer various sums of money into his bank account from customer accounts at First Data Europe, which deals with credit card transactions.
Taylor had worked 12 years at the firm in Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, before deciding to leave.
Templer was employed in a separate department. He began to get friendly with her and took her out for drinks, said Noel Casey, prosecuting.
Although the pair formed a close relationship, it was not of a sexual nature.
Their scam came to light after a customer noticed a £400 cheque had not gone through his account.
When Taylor was arrested at his home in Thames Close, Corringham, detectives found £7,000 in bank notes in a bedroom drawer.
The defendant's new life style, which included a three-week trip to Africa, was over. Moves were made to freeze a further £6,000 in his bank account.
Templer, of Littlebury Green, Basildon, did not receive a penny from the swindle.
In July, she admitted 15 counts of fraud and was ordered to work 200 hours of a community punishment order, formerly community service.
Taylor's barrister, Christopher Paxton, claimed the defendant, a man of previous good character, should receive a similar sentence because he also pleaded guilty to 15 fraud counts.
Judge Nicholas Jones agreed. He said: "She was very fortunate not to go to prison. It would be wrong for this defendant to receive a different sentence to her."
He ordered Taylor to work 200 hours of community punishment and ruled he must compensate First Data Europe £4,482 along with £100 court costs.
Published Monday October 14, 2002
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