Crossword Genius

Hated sailor worked on plot to nick expensive car (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

abhorred

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'hated' is the definition.
(abhorring is a kind of hating)

'sailor worked on plot to nick expensive car' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'sailor' could be 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman) and 'ab' is found within the answer.
'on' could be 're' (regarding) and 're' is present in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for abhorred that I've seen before include "Drab hero being loathed" , "Hated" , "Detested, loathed" , "very unpopular" , "Really detested" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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