He’s returned from less than a mile back (4)
I believe the answer is:
abel
'he's returned from less than a mile back' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'he's returned from' is the wordplay.
'he' becomes 'abe'.
'returned from' becomes 'l' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'abe'+'l'='ABEL'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for abel that I've seen before include "Cain's murdered brother" , "fellow killed by brother" , "Biblical murder victim" , "Son of Adam and Eve" , "Early murder victim" .)