Reportedly attacked offender (5)

I believe the answer is:

felon

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'offender' is the definition.
(I know that offender can be written as felon)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for felon that I've seen before include "convict" , "A dealer in textile" , "Convicted criminal" , "sore" , "Has conviction" .)

I've seen this clue in The Mirror.

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