They stain the character of initially bad lots (5)

I believe the answer is:

blots

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'they stain the character' is the definition.
The definition suggests an adverb but the answer is not.

'initially bad lots' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'bad' is 'b'.
'b'+'lots'='BLOTS'

'of' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for blots that I've seen is " Stains, perhaps on copybook".)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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