A Brisbane man who stole and swallowed two diamond rings from a jewellery store has been given a six-month suspended sentence and ordered to pay $11,000 restitution.

Pensioner David Watts, 50, swallowed the rings after being cornered by staff at the Indooroopilly store on Brisbane's westside in November last year.

Only one ring was recovered, and later sold at auction for $11,000 less than its value.

The other ring was accidentally thrown out by police because they failed to check his stools.

Watts pleaded guilty in the Magistrates Court to stealing property.

Outside court, Watts said things on the day did not quite go as planned.

"I ran away and I was sweet you know. I had the high viz (visibility gear) on cause I thought, hey, there's workers here, you know, and I could just shuffle in amongst them," he said.

"I actually ran down and I went ... well I zigged instead of zagged OK.

"I should've zagged instead of ziggin', you know what I mean? I went down the wrong way."