Norwich police have charged a home health worker with stealing more than $22,000 from an elderly client and using the cash to purchase heroin.

Tasha Gaudreau, 24, of 81 Norwich Ave., who was charged last month with first-degree larceny and fraudulent use of an automated teller machine, made her first appearance Monday in the New London court where major crimes are heard. A public defender entered a not guilty plea on her behalf, and the case was continued to Feb. 9.

Gaudrea, who worked for Allied Home Health Care, is free on a $25,000 bond and has two additional larceny cases pending in Rockville Superior Court, according to court records.  

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, a 77-year-old woman, who is not identified, called police in October 2015 after she noticed 115 unauthorized ATM withdrawals from her bank account, totaling $22,270, had been made between July and October. She said she gave her ATM card to Gaudreau, who sometimes stayed at her home and cared for her, for small purchases when she was unable to leave the home.

Police obtained surveillance video of Gaudreau making withdrawals at the Care Plus Credit Union and Dime Savings Bank, both on Norwich Avenue, according to the affidavit. Confronted by patrolman Wayne S. Burroughs, Gaudreau admitted she began withdrawing money from the ATMs and keeping it for herself. She said she would return the bank card to the patient, but would wait for the woman to fall asleep and then take it from her purse.

She said nearly all of the money was used to purchase heroin.

k.florin@the.day.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN