Ben pleaded to be free, being trustworthy (10)

I believe the answer is:

dependable

'trustworthy' is the definition.
('dependable' can be similar in meaning to 'trustworthy')

'ben pleaded to be free' is the wordplay.
'to be free' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ben'+'pleaded'='benpleaded'
'benpleaded' with letters rearranged gives 'DEPENDABLE'.

'being' is the link.

(Another definition for dependable that I've seen is " Trustworthy, reliable".)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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