The problem is the way it was said. You were practically rolling your eyes and shaking your head and saying to him, "sorry mate, you know what this **** is like. I don't want to do it but I have to." It sounded more like a gentle reprimand AND IT DID NOT WORK, as evidenced by Batty's last post on the subject yesterday. He clearly did not think he was in the wrong, and probably never will.
I guarantee, any other mod would have done a better and more effective job of dealing with this than you. Your friendship with Batty biases your judgement and your "rulings". There can be no doubt about that. You let him away with more than anyone else would get away with, and this is, now, in total contravention, and makes a mockery of, Exo's stated new rules.
Meet the new rules; same as the old rules.
This was a chance to make a definitive statement about zero-tolerance policies, and it was not only missed, but completely ignored.