Madison Ashton reveals role in police investigation into the death of her new lover’s wife

Richard Pratt’s ex mistress and high class escort Madison Ashton has revealed how she’s helping police after her new prominent boyfriend’s wife died.

High class escort Madison Ashton has explosively revealed how she is helping police investigating the “unexplained” death of the wife of her prominent eye surgeon boyfriend.

The former mistress of the late cardboard king billionaire Richard Pratt, has also dropped a bombshell about her intimate relationship with Philip Polkinghorne and his glamorous wife, Pauline Hanna, who was found dead in their $5 million Auckland mansion in April this year.

Inquiries have reached Australia as Ms Ashton divulged she has spoken to police as recently as last week revealing how they all met in 2011, when the couple booked a sex romp with Ms Ashton during a visit to Sydney.

The stunning revelations also come after police armed with a search warrant raided a luxury $1725 a night suite in a remote NZ lodge where Mr Polkinghorne and Ms Ashton were enjoying a post-Covid-lockdown lovers holiday in May – a month after his wife’s death.

Madison Ashton and lover Phillip Polkinghorne. Ms Ashton is helping New Zealand police who are investigating the “unexplained” death of Mr Polkinghorne’s wife Pauline Hanna. Picture: Supplied

The search warrant to examine a rental car and Ms Ashton’s phones were obtained on “reasonable grounds to suspect that an offences of “murder” or “manslaughter” may have been committed and that the offence of “possession of methamphetamine for supply“ …”has been, is being or will be committed.”

The sudden death of Ms Hanna, a senior health official involved in leading the Covid-19 response in NZ, has made headlines for months and sparked an exhaustive police investigation into how and why she died.

Madison Ashton and boyfriend Phillip. Police came in with a search warrant for the death of Phillip's wife. Picture: Supplied

Police have not publicly revealed the cause of death. But rumours have swirled since her body was found on Easter Monday morning. Police sealed off the house as a potential crime scene and spent more than a week scouring the property for clues.

News Corp is not suggesting Ms Ashton or Mr Polkinghorne have committed any crimes only that the warrant was obtained on those grounds.

Speaking out this week, Ms Ashton said she is willing to help police and the investigation and has nothing to hide.

“I am doing this to help her (Ms Hanna) and to solve the mystery around her death,” Ms Ashton said.

“It is one degree or no degree of separation really. But I would do this for anybody.”

Ms Ashton’s lawyer Zali Burrows said it is hard to understand why NZ police would want Ms Ashton’s phone when she is not a suspect.

Pauline Hanna and her husband Philip Polkinghorne. Picture: Supplied

The home where Ms Hanna was found dead in April this year. Picture: Supplied

It has been reported traces of methamphetamine were found in the home in one of Auckland’s most affluent suburbs, and that Ms Hanna, had hired a private investigator named “James” in the weeks before she died.

There is no suggestion the drugs belonged to Mr Polkinghorne.

Ms Hanna’s stepson Ben Polkinghorne wrote on social media that she had been terribly stressed in the weeks before her death.

Police are understood to have questioned neighbours, as well as a masseuse and a barber known to Mr Polkinghorne.

Ms Ashton disclosed she became involved when police interrupted the weekend she was enjoying with Mr Polkinghorne at the Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat on New Zealand’s South Island just weeks after Ms Hanna’s death.

The room where police burst in and found Ms Ashton and her lover.

Ms Ashton’s phones after they were seized by NZ police. Picture: Supplied

During a romantic room-service dinner at which Ms Ashton said she was dressed in an eye-popping cat suit and drinking champagne with Mr Polkinghorne, police arrived, rummaged through their belongings, searched the car Mr Polkinghorne had rented for their vacation and seized her phones.

“Phillip had opened the door and said the strangest thing to the police. He said “what took you so long?” Ms Ashton said.

“I was thinking ‘who the f … are these people?’.”

Ms Ashton said the police had a warrant to seize her phones and had asked her for her passcode to open them threatening to arrest her if she didn’t comply. But she refused.

“I couldn’t give them access to my phones – my client lists are confidential…,” she said.

Her phones were seized and not returned to her until some months later.

Ms Ashton told police her relationship with Mr Polkinghorne had been a romantic one as boyfriend and girlfriend for more than three years.

Ms Ashton’s lawyer Zali Burrows. Picture: Joel Carrett

She said she first met Mr Polkinghorne and Ms Hanna when they booked her services and for a sex session in 2011. They all met at the Zeta Bar in the Hilton Hotel for a drink beforehand.

She said as a couple they used her services a number of times as well as those of other sex workers during their visits to Sydney.

“They were an older couple, glamorous and experienced and I held them in high regard,” Ms Ashton said.

She also told police Ms Hanna had gone to book a male escort just for herself on different occasions.

After several years, Mr Polkinghorne began booking Ms Ashton just to be with him.

In 2017 he took the relationship from business to personal telling her that he and his wife had divorced and he was single and free to build a future with her.

She said they were setting up a home in Sydney, with Mr Polkinghorne taking out a lease on a luxurious, high-rise inner-city apartment for Ms Ashton where she currently lives.

Ms Ashton said she continued her profession as a sex worker, and Mr Polkinghorne was aware of that. However, she said she was unaware that Mr Polkinghorne and Ms Hanna were still living together as a couple.

She said Mr Polkinghorne called her in Australia a few hours after he found his wife’s body and he was sort of “yelping” down the phone

When contacted about his relationship with Ms Ashton, Mr Polkinghorne said he had no comment.

He did not respond to a list of questions sent to him.

Detective Inspector Aaron Pascoe, Auckland City Police said: “Auckland City Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of Pauline Hanna’s sudden death in April, which we are still treating as unexplained.

“Our enquiries remain ongoing and Police will not be commenting on specifics of our ongoing investigation.”