Small had got into debt and was secretly followed (8)

I believe the answer is:

shadowed

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'secretly followed' is the definition.
'shadowed' can be an answer for 'followed' (shadowing is a kind of following). I am not sure about the 'secretly' bit.

'small had got into debt' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'got into debt' becomes 'owed' (owed money).
's'+'had'+'owed'='SHADOWED'

'and was' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for shadowed that I've seen before include "Followed secretly" , "Made gloomy" , "Was stalker" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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