Crossword Genius

Old flame caught working for retired crminal (2-3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ex-con

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'retired crminal' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I can't judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'old flame caught working' is the wordplay.
'old flame' becomes 'ex' (an ex-lover).
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'working' becomes 'on' (on can mean working or activated).
'ex'+'c'+'on'='EX-CON'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ex-con that I've seen before include "Old lag" , "Former prisoner, in short" , "Former jailbird" , "Person once inside, now outside" , "One who has served time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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