Case of criminal instructor having run off (9)
I believe the answer is:
container
'case' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'criminal instructor having run off' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'criminal' could be 'con' (abbreviation for 'convict') and 'con' is found in the answer.
'run' could be 'r' (cricket abbreviation) and 'r' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'taine' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'of' is the link.
(Other definitions for container that I've seen before include "Large box for commercial transportation" , "Something to hold" , "Box for large-scale trade" , "storage" , "Something that holds" .)