Guilty person the copper left to trip up (7)
I believe the answer is:
culprit
'guilty person' is the definition.
'culprit' can be an answer for 'person' (culprit is a kind of person). I am not certain of the 'guilty' bit.
'copper left to trip up' is the wordplay.
'copper' becomes 'cu' (chemical symbol).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'up' is an anagram indicator (letters get chucked up).
'trip' is an anagram of 'prit'.
'cu'+'l'+'prit'='CULPRIT'
'the' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for culprit that I've seen before include "The one to blame, guilty party" , "one awaiting trial" , "Perpetrator of a wrongdoing" , "Person responsible for wrongdoing" , "Criminal" .)