The Times – Cryptic – March 9 2018

The Times – Cryptic – Times Cryptic No 26981

Clues	Answers
A guilty man, I cried uncontrollably after charge withdrawn	PARRICIDE
Act timidly as cat’s-paw	PUSSYFOOT
Addict under control in a month	MAINLINER
Be transported by a cigar, strange hallucinogen	fly agaric
Benefit includes free new playing field	GRIDIRON
Book on unfinished temple has unusual origin	PARTHENOGENESIS
Fix smart girl and yours truly up	EMBED
Greek hero seen oddly in America	THESEUS
Head of BBC wearing curious sleeve that shouldn’t unravel	SELVEDGE
In method of access, university going for good pay back here	AVENGE
In part of ship, breakfast food served around wrong time of day?	TOPMAST
Is ready to edit royal film	easy rider
Jump round ring; shouldn’t one jump through it?	HOOP
Lower barrier enclosing empty space	BASER
Nick is landed with hard work	cop shop

Clues	Answers
No time for wildly enjoyable event about to be hosted by prize solver	POIROT
One seabird in trap where people surf?	INTERNET
Only part of the problem is eg the fibre-optic, sadly	tip of the iceberg
Opposed to solitary confinement, ignoring small infringement	VIOLATION
Pointer the continental snake tailed	laser pen
Queen boards large sailing ship	BRIG
Rabbit’s little problem: caught by predator	CHITCHAT
Report of British members losing way in German League	HANSA
Sound quality of wood finally being turned	TIMBRE
Surprised reaction about publication in market town	OMAGH
Throwing game drops ball and walks out	QUITS
Top up, backing partner to drink litre	PULLOVER
Type that’s confused about way in mountain track	PISTE
Wine-producing area has some striking iron deposits	GIRONDE
With unfulfilled potential, chap starts to question universal education	MANQUE