SAN DIEGO -  

An ex-con with a lengthy criminal history pleaded guilty Friday to carrying out a spree of late-night armed robberies in City Heights, Normal Heights, North Park and University Heights over a one-month period earlier this year.

Maurice Sinclair Gibbs, 45, faces a maximum of 160 years to life in prison when he is sentenced Oct. 15, said Deputy District Attorney James Koerber. The defendant pleaded guilty to six robbery counts.

The prosecutor said Gibbs -- dubbed the "Hood and Hose Bandit" because he wore a nylon stocking over his face during the holdups -- robbed five businesses, including a fast-food restaurant, a video store and several gas stations, between April 16 and May 16.

On May 17, police conducting a surveillance operation noticed Gibbs acting strangely and chased him, Koerber said. A fake gun and panty hose were found near the suspect when he was taken into custody, the prosecutor said.

Gibbs, who has been in prison five times, has a prior robbery conviction from 1998 and an attempted robbery conviction from 1995, according to a criminal complaint.