Possible Clues:

• Snake that's savage squeezing a prisoner hard
• Son taken in by detailed scam on board ship -- alternatively, one might put the squeeze on you?
• A Tory authoritarian in brute that may squeeze the life out of you?
• Concealing scam, stole more rigid-sounding reptile
• Slippery customer that'll give you a squeeze and take you out?
• Large snake
• It prefers squash to snakebite!
• Medium-sweet sherry