Criminal chap for a bit of bovver? (9)
I believe the answer is:
desperado
'criminal' is the definition.
(desperado can mean a criminal or outlaw)
'chap for a bit of bovver?' is the wordplay.
'chap' becomes 'Des'.
'for a' becomes 'per' ('per' can mean 'for each' person or 'for a' person).
'bit of bovver?' becomes 'ado' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'des'+'per'+'ado'='DESPERADO'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for desperado that I've seen before include "Bandit, outlaw" , "Wild ruffian" , "reckless one" , "Reckless outlaw" , "Bravo" .)