First offender caught in the very act (3)
I believe the answer is:
eve
'first offender' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'caught in the very act' is the wordplay.
'caught in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'EVE' is hidden in the letters of 'the very act'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for eve that I've seen before include "Adam & - -" , "Woman of Eden" , "comes before Jan. 1st" , "Day before (an event)" , "Adam's partner" .)