Crossword Genius

Did criminal court go after a fiend? (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

addict

'fiend?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'did criminal court go after a' is the wordplay.
'criminal' is an anagram indicator.
'court' becomes 'ct' (abbreviation used in road names).
'go after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'did' anagrammed gives 'ddi'.
'ddi'+'ct'='ddict'
'ddict' put after 'a' is 'ADDICT'.

(Other definitions for addict that I've seen before include "One unable to kick habit" , "Keen devotee; hook" , "fiend" , "Junkie, substance abuser" , "Slave to a chemical substance" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sunday Times and The Times.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app