Crossword Genius

Ran the jail to deter breaks (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cantered

'ran' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'the jail to deter breaks' is the wordplay.
'the jail' becomes 'can' (the can is American slang for prison).
'breaks' indicates anagramming the letters.
'deter' with letters rearranged gives 'tered'.
'can'+'tered'='CANTERED'

(Another definition for cantered that I've seen is " Ran, in a way".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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