The inmate was then placed in solitary confinement soaking wet and naked, as his clothes had been shredded when they were torn off by detention centre staff, reports the Metro newspaper.

Seven guards were involved in the incident, which took place in January 2007 after staff at the centre grew tired of the inmate’s refusal to attend to his personal hygiene.

“Naturally a completely unacceptable way to solve such a problem. The commander in question was assigned to other duties some time ago,” said detention centre head Agneta Kempe told Metro.

The commander of the Huddinge detention facility south of Stockholm has been charged with professional misconduct in Södertörn district court. He confirms the forced “high pressure shower” took place, but objects to being held responsible for the incident.

The 29-year-old inmate was being held at the time for violating laws governing the rights of foreign nationals to reside in Sweden.