LOOKING through the News Shopper archives it seems 1984 was a year when some people were looked after and some were exploited.

Bromley Council led the way in looking after children with learning difficulties, if not in politically correct expression, by opening the "first secondary school for educationally sub-normal pupils" in the country in West Wickham.

Unfortunately, children were also exploited in 1984, with documentary The Karate Kid showing how an old Japanese man took advantage of a boy's dream of becoming a karate champion.

Millions of people in cinemas across the world saw how the devious Mr Miyagi tricked American teenager Daniel into painting his fence and washing his car.

Miyagi told Daniel the household chores would improve his karate skills and help him win an upcoming tournament, but it was all lies.

A reliable source tells me Miyagi didn't know anything about karate and was a used car salesman.

When Daniel won the karate tournament, cinema audiences believed it was due to Miyagi's training'.

But what didn't make it into the documentary was footage of Miyagi kidnapping the pets of every competitor in the tournament and sending ransom notes saying "Daniel wins or your pet becomes a coat".

There was more exploitation when a garage used a tried-and-tested technique to sell tyres to men.

London Tyre Warehouse in Bromley Road ran adverts in News Shopper showing a scantily-clad woman standing next to tyres.

This tricked male News Shopper readers into thinking if they bought tyres they would also get the attractive woman.

I'd like to say this advertising technique died out in the 1980s and men are much smarter now, but yesterday I bought a windshield and a bra I have no use for.

When a Lewisham resident felt he was being exploited in 1984 he fought back.

Tired of his complaints about a rat infestation in his council home falling on deaf ears, he put one of the rats in a box and sent it to Lewisham Council's chief executive.