Those legal? Watch criminal avoid serious punishment (5,3,7)

I believe the answer is:

cheat the gallows

'avoid serious punishment' is the definition.
(avoid being hanged)

'those legal? watch criminal' is the wordplay.
'criminal' indicates anagramming the letters.
'those'+'legal'+'watch'='thoselegalwatch'
'thoselegalwatch' anagrammed gives 'CHEAT THE GALLOWS'.

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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