Crossword Genius

Provide bits of information to first of defendants after court charge (5-4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

spoon-feed

'provide bits of information' is the definition.
(as in spoon-feeding students with information)

'first of defendants after court charge' is the wordplay.
'first of defendants' becomes 'd' (fst letter of 'defendants').
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'court' becomes 'spoon' (spoon can mean to behave amorously while courting).
'charge' becomes 'fee' (fee is a kind of charge).
'spoon'+'fee'='spoonfee'
'd' put after 'spoonfee' is 'SPOON-FEED'.

'to' is the link.

(Other definitions for spoon-feed that I've seen before include "Overindulge or spoil" , "Give (someone) too much help" , "Provide with so much help as to remove any challenge" , "Foster artificially" , "Give infant a meal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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