Northamptonshire’s season ended in heavy defeat inside four sessions in Chelmsford.
Essex only needed five wickets on the second day to complete a comprehensive victory, the third innings win in four Divisional matches, as Northamptonshire were bowled out for 45.
And they wrapped it up inside exactly half an hour with Shane Snater taking four for seven before Sam Cook completed his maiden ten-wicket haul and the match – returning ten for 41.
Shane Snater found the edge of a driving Saif Zaib when coming around the wicket before Nick Browne made difficult work of completing the catch at third slip; eventually holding the ball safely at the third parry.
Adam Rossington almost chipped his third ball to mid-off, as Snater found excessive bounce on a length, he then powerfully lofted a boundary over the covers.
But with the fourth ball of the eventful over, Snater dinged the top of off-stump to leave Northamptonshire 30 for seven, still 59 runs behind.
Josh Cobb, on his first first-class outing for two years, attempted an audacious pull shot to a ball well outside off stump first delivery which went straight up and was safely pouched at cover by Michael Pepper.
Tom Taylor showed intent with two boundaries off Cook but clubbed Snater straight to stand-in captain Dan Lawrence at mid-off.
The disappointing Northamptonshire showing was completed in 18.2 overs as Luke Procter, who had manfully scored 53 per cent of the runs with his 23, edged Cook behind.