Crossword Genius

Turncoat's first motive for crime (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

treason

'crime' is the definition.
(treason is a kind of crime)

'turncoat's first motive' is the wordplay.
'first' indicates taking the first letters.
'motive' becomes 'reason' (reason is a kind of motive).
The first letter of 'turncoats' is 't'.
't'+'reason'='TREASON'

'for' is the link.

(Other definitions for treason that I've seen before include "subversion" , "Disloyalty (to one's country)" , "Crime agains one's country" , "Crime of treachery against the state" , "Criminal attempt to overthrow a government" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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