Chief criminal element in campanologist? (10)

I believe the answer is:

ringleader

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'chief' is the definition.
(thesaurus)

'criminal element in campanologist?' is the wordplay.
'criminal element' becomes 'lead' (lead is a kind of element. I am not sure about the 'criminal' bit.).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'campanologist?' becomes 'ringer' (I've seen this before).
'lead' placed within 'ringer' is 'RINGLEADER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ringleader that I've seen before include "Chief troublemaker" , "Chief mischief maker" , "brains" , "Main villain" , "firebrand" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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