Crossword Genius

Offender to begin with breaking into pub cash? Not guilty (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

innocent

'not guilty' is the definition.
(I know this)

'offender to begin with breaking into pub cash?' is the wordplay.
'to begin with' says to take the initial letters.
'breaking into' indicates putting letters inside.
'pub' becomes 'inn' (an inn is a type of pub).
'cash?' becomes 'cent' ().
The first letter of 'offender' is 'o'.
'inn'+'cent'='inncent'
'o' put into 'inncent' is 'INNOCENT'.

(Other definitions for innocent that I've seen before include "Virgin" , "Free from sin" , "without blood on hands?" , "Simple and ignorant of evil" , "Without blame or guilt" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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