POLICE have apologised to the family of a young father shot dead in the same east London street he was stabbed in earlier this year.

Meanwhile the Met commissioner Sir Ian Blair has been told he must answer questions on his force's handling of the case.

Peter Woodhams, 22, was murdered after confronting a gang of youths in Freemasons Road, Canning Town, who terrorised his family and their neighbourhood.

Police confirmed that on January 21 he was stabbed in the neck on exactly the same road.

On Monday evening his fiancee, Jane Bowden, 23, could only watch as paramedics tried in vain to save the man she loved outside their home.

Miss Bowden believes the killers were part of the same gang that nearly killed him seven months ago. On that day youths held him down and stabbed him when he confronted them for casting a stone at his car.

After the stabbing, Miss Bowden said she gave names and addresses of the alleged attackers to the police, but no-one even took a statement from her.

"They (the gang) were always taunting us, watching me walking home with Sam and smirking," Miss Bowden told the Evening Standard. "They knew they had stabbed Peter and got away with it. They thought they were untouchable."

No arrests were made following the stabbing.

Commander Rod Jarman yesterday said a "full review" would be conducted to ensure "correct standards of police procedure" were taken.

"We will robustly deal with any possible failures by our staff involved in this incident and I wish to apologise for any additional hurt this has caused the family," he said.

Mr Jarman said it was a priority to investigate any links between the stabbing and this week's fatal shooting.

Commissioner ordered to report

Commissioner was told he must report fully on both incidents at the next Met Police Authority meeting.

"We will want to know how police responded to the earlier stabbing incident in January when Mr Woodhams was allegedly attacked with a knife and whether the handling of that incident had any bearing on his murder," an MPA spokesman said.

"Without prejudging the outcome of the Metropolitan Police's own investigations, we will want to see if there are any lessons to be learnt."

Detectives believe Mr Woodhams was harassed by youths at shops in nearby Freemasons Road shortly before his death. The television satellite engineer drove home to drop off his black Ford Focus.

"Peter came in and said something about some trouble outside. He ran back out and then I heard two or three bangs," Miss Bowden said in the Standard interview.

"I went out holding Sam and saw someone run off. Peter turned to me and walked a few steps. I could see blood on his clothes.

"Then he just collapsed into some bushes and I started screaming. He managed to drag himself up and walk over to the front door and then fell on his front.

"He had been shot in the chest and a bullet had gone through his hand where he tried to protect himself."

'He wanted to protect us'

Miss Bowden told of how her fiancee refused to let January's stabbing get to him.

"They wrestled him to the ground and one said 'Hold him down'. Three held him while one slashed his face and stabbed him in the neck.

"They knew what they were doing - they tried to kill him."

Afterwards he needed emergency surgery, as the blade narrowly missing his jugular vein.

"He was traumatised by it, but he was determined not to let them win. He wanted to stand up to them and protect me and Sam - that's the way he was.

"He was a brilliant dad, Sam idolised him," Miss Bowden said.

"He was a grafter, he worked so hard to give everything to me and our son. We were a happy little family and now it's all gone. I just want him back, he didn't do anything wrong. It's so unfair."

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the murder, but has since been bailed to return to a police station pending the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Ian Stevenson appealed for anyone who saw Mr Woodhams or his car near the shops to contact police. "I'm also particularly keen to speak with anyone who witnessed the shooting, or sightings of suspects running away."

Anyone with information can call 020 8345 1570.