Magistrate 'Rod Rocketman' reveals the bizarre reason he insists on claiming his 23-year-old lover's $180,000 death payout - as her haunting final text messages to her much older fiance are revealed

The magistrate who shacked up with a law clerk 45 years his junior has revealed why he insists on pocketing her $180,000 death pay out, claiming her mother's solicitor had been 'intimidating and threatening', provoking him to dig his heels in. 

Rodney Higgins, now 71, was engulfed by controversy in 2019 after his relationship with Ashleigh Petrie, 23, became public.

He also claimed his young partner had access to his bank account and had been feeding her mother money before she died.

The unlikely couple had lived together for six months and were also engaged, but Ms Petrie was tragically killed when hit by a car just weeks after Mr Higgins popped the question.

Although the magistrate nicknamed 'Rod Rocketman' was earning more than $300,000 a year in his high-flying legal profession, he received Ms Petrie's entire $180,000 superannuation and life insurance benefit despite the young woman nominating her mum as the benefactor.

The unusual romance and ugly family dispute has sparked nation-wide outrage with calls for Mr Higgins to hand the money over to Ms Petrie's mother, Tina.

But Mr Higgins has showed no signs of parting with the money because he did not like the 'manner' of the solicitor representing Ms Petrie's mum, as he reveals for the first time the final text his fiancé sent before she died.

Rodney Higgins, pictured enjoying retirement on the golf course in June, has broken his silence over the relationship he had with a law clerk 45 years his junior 

Ashleigh Petrie and Rodney Higgins were engaged and lived together for several months until Ms Petrie died shortly after their relationship made headlines

'I don't like the intimidating and threatening manner that Ashleigh's mother's solicitor has taken,' Mr Higgins told A Current Affair. 

'I wish things were different.

'I wish they hadn't have gone the way they have and I wish we had conciliation way back then and worked out a proper distribution.' 

He also claimed that his former fiancé had access to his bank account and had, unbeknownst to him, been giving her mother money. 

'Ashleigh Petrie had full license to use my bank account to take whatever she wanted. I did not know that she was giving her mother money,' he said. 

The now-retired Magistrate also took aim at his young lover's grieving mother and her family, claiming they 'froze him out' because they did not approve of their relationship.   

'I'd asked for the ashes and I didn't get them,' he said.

'I'd asked for the death certificate, I didn't get that.

'So I just thought – "well I'm being frozen out here".'

'It's an unusual thing for a man of my age to be with a young girl of Ashleigh's age.'

 Pictured: The 68-year-old magistrate and 23-year-old court clerk after getting engaged

Mr Higgins received a $180,000 super and life insurance payout following the death of his young fiancee Ashleigh Petrie  

The couple's relationship raised eyebrows in legal circles given they two both worked in the Magistrates Court of Victoria and he was in a very senior position.

But Mr Higgins claims there was nothing inappropriate about it.

'The impression was Ashleigh worked with me in court, and that I had some sort of a hold on her,' Mr Higgins said.

'That's completely untrue, we never, ever worked together. We were in the same court here in Shepparton when I was solicitor and she was a court clerk.

'But it was just a normal professional relationship.'

Mr Higgins proposed in 2019 during a romantic holiday in Fiji. Pictured: The couple on holiday 

Magistrate Rodney Higgins proposed to his girlfriend Ashleigh Petrie, 23, in September. She is pictured right and left with her ring

The couple had lived together for about six months of their seven-month romance before the relationship ended in horrific circumstances.

Mr Higgins said Ms Petrie told him she had to go for a walk to 'clear her head' when she began sending worrying messages. 

'She started to text me, "you would be better off without me, you would be better off without me. I have ruined your career. I am ruining your life. You will find someone",' he said.  

'There were four or five messages on her phone all from her and it just got worse and worse, saying "you will not see me again". 

'"You are the love of my life". And "goodbye".'

After her death, reports about her mental health began to emerge.

Ms Petrie was diagnosed as bipolar at 19, struggled with alcoholism, had a history of dating men who were significantly older than her, and made several attempts on her own life. 

 Pictured: Ashleigh Petrie and Rod Higgins at the local pub. She often shared selfies with the magistrate on social media

Miss Petrie is pictured with Mr Higgins, who proposed to her in September 2019 after a whirlwind romance

Just three months after Ms Petrie died, Mr Higgins moved back in with his former partner sparking even more anger from the community.

When asked about the situation he told the Channel Nine program: 'Strange things happen don't they.'

The legal dispute over Ms Petrie's Rest Superannuation pay out is now being reviewed by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority.

An ombudsman panel is set to convene before the end of August with a ruling likely to be finalised in September.

Lawyers representing Ms Petrie's mother's have already flagged they intend to lodge an appeal in the Federal Court if the decision does not go their way. 

If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, for free confidential support. 

Senior judicial figures were furious that Mr Higgins fought Ms Petrie's mother for her $180,000 super pay out. Pictured: The couple at the beach

Timeline of romance 

2016-17: Rod Higgins and Ashleigh Petrie meet living next door to each other in Shepparton, Victoria

2017: She is a guest at a party celebrating his appointment as magistrate

2018: The two start a secret relationship under the nose of his second long-term partner

Early 2019: Court colleagues are shocked to discover the relationship and raise concerns. Mr Higgins is moved to another court far away

September: Mr Higgins proposes during a romantic trip to Fiji

October 9: News of their relationship, engagement, and colleague concerns breaks in the media

October: Mr Higgins' ex-partner controversially gets a restraining order against Ms Petrie with allegations of bias against chief magistrate who granted it

October 28: Ms Petrie is killed when she is hit by a car as a pedestrian. He death was ruled a suicide by a coroner.