A Chicago man who tried to steal a diamond by swallowing it was held by police for five days until it passed through his system.

The man allegedly swallowed the £24,000 gem in a jeweller's shop and tried to replace it with a fake but shop staff spotted the switch, locked the doors and called the police.

After he was arrested, the suspect complained of abdominal pain and was taken to hospital where an X-ray showed the diamond in his intestines. He was held in police custody while officers sifted through his bowel movements but they did not find the gem for five days.