Crossword Genius

Chap roughly repelled bloodsuckers (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cecil

'chap' is the definition.

'roughly repelled bloodsuckers' is the wordplay.
'roughly' becomes 'c' (circa).
'repelled' says the letters should be written backwards.
'bloodsuckers' becomes 'lice' (bloodsucking creatures).
'lice' backwards is 'ecil'.
'c'+'ecil'='CECIL'

(Other definitions for cecil that I've seen before include "Boy" , "Marquis of Salisbury family name" , ". . . . . Rhodes, . . . . . B. de Mille" , "-- Beaton, English photographer" , "Man" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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