How do I solve 22 across in Daily Telegraph Cryptic 31240?

Question

Accepted Answer

22 across reads "Repeatedly stripped Mini lad knew to be empty" (5 letters); the answer is INANE. It's a deletion clue: start with a word the clue points to, then drop one or more letters. Indicators include 'endlessly' (lose the last letter), 'beheaded' (lose the first), or 'heartlessly' (lose the middle). The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Repeatedly stripped Mini lad knew to be empty (5)

22A — Repeatedly stripped Mini lad knew to be empty (5) — INANE