A meth-addicted couple were in a "mutually-destructive relationship" when they ripped off dozens of would-be cellphone buyers by scamming them through Facebook.

Shaun Timms, 29, of Tahuna, and Lisa Wilton, 27, of Ōhaupō, appeared in the Hamilton District Court on Tuesday after they had each pled guilty to 33 charges of accessing a computer system for fraud.

The computer system in question was Facebook, and the nature of the fraud was the creation of various fictitious profiles, which they used to hawk equally fictitious iPhones.

It was a modus operandi that from June to October last year netted them $13,265 from would-be iPhone buyers who paid money into their bank accounts.

The money was used to feed their addiction to methamphetamine.

Wilton had also plead guilty to one charge of burglary and Timms had plead guilty to one charge of receiving stolen goods. Those charges related to an incident on October 2 last year when Wilton gained entry to her former partner's house in Tūākau.

That former partner was a professional DJ and, after first deactivating a security camera, Wilton stole equipment worth $28,000.

The next day the pair went to Cash Converters in Tauranga where they attempted to sell that equipment.

The police became involved and Wilton initially attempted to blame Timms, saying it was he who was responsible for acquiring the items they were attempting to get rid of.

"That explanation is ludicrous," Judge Robert Spear told her. "You were the link there."

While the burglary was a simple breach of trust, the Facebook fraud was persistent and deliberate dishonesty, he said.

"It is so easy to commit a fraud of this nature and often hard to track down the perpetrators of this crime."

Wilton and Timms were no longer together and Timms had described their relationship as a "meth relationship". The description the judge used was "mutually-destructive".

Judge Spear said he was relieved to hear both of the defendants were committed to overcoming their addiction and they had come to court with a contingent of family supporters.

Wilton also had $6000 which she could pay to the victims of the Facebook fraud.

"Both of you have lost your way and both of you have to suffer for it."

Wilton in particular was armed with information about the steps she had taken towards rehabilitation.

"You have displayed the attributes of a young woman who wants to change."

However he had a warning:

"If you go back to drugs then I will see you again. Nothing is surer."

He also praised Timms for his efforts to remain drug-free.

"You are starting to see the light."

He sentenced the pair to nine months of home detention each.

-Stuff/Mike Mather.