Crossword Genius

Leather seat wrecked by sweet little child? (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lambaste

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'leather seat wrecked by sweet little child?' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'seat wrecked by sweet little child?' is the wordplay.
'wrecked' indicates anagramming the letters.
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'sweet little child?' becomes 'lamb' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'seat' is an anagram of 'aste'.
'aste' put after 'lamb' is 'LAMBASTE'.

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(Other definitions for lambaste that I've seen before include "Berate severely" , "Am ablest to administer a beating" , "Beat -- reprimand severely" , "carpet" , "Harshly criticise" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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