Lad returning to the front as a criminal (6)
I believe the answer is:
vandal
'a criminal' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's a link between them I don't understand?
'lad returning to the front' is the wordplay.
'returning' says the letters should be written backwards.
'to' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (I've seen this in other clues).
'the front' becomes 'van' (I've seen this in other clues).
'lad' back-to-front is 'dal'.
'dal' put after 'van' is 'VANDAL'.
'as' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for vandal that I've seen before include "One who wilfully defaces or destroys property" , "destructive member of the public" , "He breaks things wantonly" , "Hoodlum" , "Old German" .)