Open day two part return train tickets- National rail UK?

Question

I bought an open day return ticket on the first of march. The ticket was two parts and lasts for a month. Im planning on travelling to and from the same place printed on the tickets AGAIN in the next few days, on my previous journey the ticket man circled the date bought on the OUTWARD ticket. However when I returned the ticket man vaguely looked at the ticket and said thanks. He did not leave any mark on the ticket.

My question is, would I be allowed to travel to the same destination if I just bought a single ticket and used the unmarked open day return ticket (Valid by date) to return to my destination two days later (Date will still be valid)

The national rail website states:

"17. Using a return ticket

A return ticket (including a two-part return ticket) is only valid for the outward

journey shown on that ticket if the ticket is completely unused. You may not use

the outward part of a return ticket after you have used the return part."

Answer 1

No one would know that you had already used the return portion, nor would they have any proof. However, morally and legally you would be cheating the railways out of much-needed money.

Do the honest thing and buy a return ticket - they're often only a little more expensive.

Shame on the ticket collector for not marking your ticket.

Answer 2

There is no such thing as an "Open Day Return" ticket, only a "Standard Day Return" or an off-peak  "Cheap Day Return". These tickets are only valid on the date shown on the ticket .

If your ticket is a "Standard Open Return" it's valid for travel out and back any time within a calander month; i.e. you can use the outward half any time in March and return any time before April 1st.

Due to the lax ticket inspection on your previous return journey, the return half of that original ticket will be perfectly valid, so you only need to buy a single for your next outward journey. This assumes that you originally bought a "Standard Open Return" ticket.